Burrell refuses to return to Di inquest

Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell has refused to return to the London inquest into her death, despite being asked to explain discrepancies between his evidence and a video recording in which he apparently claims that he introduced "red herrings". In the video obtained by the Sun newspaper, Burrell allegedly talks about how he held back key facts during his three-day appearance at the inquest in January.

Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker told the hearing that he could not force Burrell, who now lives in the United States, to give evidence because he is outside the court's jurisdiction. Nor would Burrell agree to giving evidence via videolink, he added. "Mr Burrell is abroad and I have no power to compel a witness to attend to give evidence and he says that he is not going to be in the United Kingdom in the near future."

Further evidence from Burrell will be read to the jury, the coroner said. The former butler's lawyers have said he did not conceal evidence and released a statement saying the tabloid story was the "result of entrapment".

Burrell described his January appearance in the witness stand as "ghastly" and "horrid". He was ordered by the coroner to go to his former home in Cheshire to retrieve documents to prove a "secret" about Diana. This turned out to be the fact that the Princess was looking for a house in California or South Africa - already common knowledge.