Di's ex-butler Paul Burrell escapes perjury probe

London, May 10 : Royal butler Paul Burrell will not be prosecuted for perjury despite confessing he lied at Princess Diana's inquest.

Even coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker branded the 49-year-old a liar after he was filmed at a New York hotel admitting he did not tell the truth.

After the video was released, the Metropolitan Police investigated it.

The cops carried out a "scoping exercise" to see whether there were grounds to launch a formal investigation into perjury.

But the Met, who tried and failed to prosecute Burrell in 2002 for allegedly stealing hundreds of Diana's possessions following her death, have now been advised by CPS lawyers there is no realistic prospect of prosecution.

Cops believe it cannot be proved he deliberately lied on oath.

His evidence was also not important to the outcome of the inquest, as required for a perjury conviction, and Burrell said he made his confession after he had been drinking.

After his lies first came to light, Lord Justice Scott Baker asked Florida-based Burrell to return to Britain to explain himself. But the butler refused fearing he would be arrested.

"We have reviewed the available evidence in relation to the perjury allegations made against Paul Burrell and sought the view of both the Crown Prosecution Service and coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker," The Sun quoted the Met, as saying.

"As a result we have reached the decision that there is insufficient admissible evidence to prove that an offence of perjury has occurred and therefore do not believe it to be appropriate to instigate a police investigation," the Met added.

ANI