PRINCESS Diana’s brother has urged police to investigate the BBC over the “painful lies” it told in order to get his sister’s Panorama interview.
Earl Spencer urged police to “reconsider” their decision not to take legal action against the broadcaster after he said lawyers told him that “unlawful and criminal conduct” was “obviously” involved.
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The Beeb publicly apologized this week to the Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex for the road Diana was cheated” to get the infamous chat with reporter Martin Bashir in 1995.
It came after an independent investigation revealed that the “rogue reporter” was faking bank statements and making up vile stories to gain the vulnerable Diana’s trust and secure the chat.
But despite the findings, the Met said in September that it… “unidentified evidence of activity that constituted a criminal offence” and will therefore take no further action”.
And the decision left Earl Spencer, 58, determined to continue fighting to get justice for his sister.
Writing in the Post on Sundayhe said: “I hope the police will reconsider their responsibilities in this case.
“Only they have the power to get to the bottom of this horrific scandal, which left Diana feeling even more exposed and alone, tricking her into leaving behind those who cared for her and who would have protected her.”
bashir showed Earl Spencer the forged bank statements to gain access to his sister before telling her a series of lies – including that Prince Charles had an affair with their nanny, the then Tiggy Legge-Bourke.
The BBC this week apologized to Ms Legge-Bourke, now Alexandra Pettifer, handing her “substantial damages” for the “false and malicious claims”.
From his own experience, Earl Spencer said: “I feel like I was being looked after…showed false bank statements; I was told of underhanded payments, espionage and horrific deception.
“But all along I was the one who was tricked into getting Mr. Bashir to my late sister.”
He added that Diana was “extremely vulnerable” when she met Bashir because her secrets appeared in the press.
And in devastating comments, he linked the Panorama interview with her death.
He added: “The embarrassing lies the BBC told her before their cameras finally turned up left her in that Panorama interview with a very skewed and misrepresented view of the situation she was in, having been lied to repeatedly. .
“This led her to speak in a way that set her on a course of not receiving adequate protection when she needed it most. All those responsible must be held accountable.”
‘DEEP REGRET’
In addition to apologizing to Ms Legge-Bourke, the BBC this week also issued a personal apology to Prince Charles, Harry and Prince William for Bashir’s actions.
According to The Times, the Duke of Cambridge believes the broadcaster has not gone far enough in questioning the “legitimacy” of the interview.
BBC Director General Tim Davie said it was “a matter of deep regret” that the BBC did not “get the facts sooner”.
He said in a statement: “I would like to take this opportunity to publicly apologize to her, the Prince of Wales and the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex for the way Princess Diana was misled and the subsequent impact on everyone.” their lives.
“It is deeply regrettable that the BBC did not come to the facts immediately after the program when there were warning signs that the interview may have been obtained in error.”
A Met Police spokesman said: “In March 2021, the Metropolitan Police Service determined it was inappropriate to launch a criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful activity in connection with a 1995 documentary broadcast.
“Following the publication of Lord Dyson’s report in May, specialist detectives reviewed its contents and carefully studied the law – again seeking independent legal advice from the Treasury Counsel and consulting the Crown Prosecution Service.
“As a result, the MPS has found no evidence of activities that constituted a criminal offense and will therefore not take any further action.”
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
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