Bodyguard's torment over Diana inquest

Published on Sunday 7 October 2007 01:54

PRINCESS Diana's bodyguard Trevor Rees has taken a private security job in Iraq and will not be attending the inquest into her death until he is called as a witness next year.

Security work in Iraq, which can pay up to 1,000 a day, is highly dangerous. But Rees, who was injured in the Paris crash that killed Diana, Dodi Fayed and chauffeur Henri Paul, is reported to be so desperate to avoid reliving the tragedy he is happy to take the risk.

His wife Ann was reported to have said: "He doesn't want anything to do with the inquest. All he wants is to forget and get on with his life."

A friend was quoted as having said: "That Trevor is in Iraq is a measure of how much he wants to be out of the way. He doesn't want to be involved in the inquest at all - he'd rather be dodging bullets. Trevor thinks enough has been said about what happened to Diana, and I think he's right. He doesn't like to talk about it. It has scarred him for life."

Rees, 38, is still expected to be called to give evidence at the inquest in London's High Court but it is likely he will not have to appear until December or January.

The former Para was pictured in the front seat of Princess Diana's Mercedes moments before it crashed in the Pont d'Alma tunnel. Rees, formerly known as Rees Jones, was the only passenger to escape with his life from the wreckage.