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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Coroner rejects royal Diana jury | Coroner rejects royal Diana jury |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Any jury at the inquest into the death of Princess Diana will be drawn from the public, the coroner has said. | Any jury at the inquest into the death of Princess Diana will be drawn from the public, the coroner has said. |
| Lady Butler-Sloss told a preliminary High Court hearing that she wanted the inquest in May and did not want the panel drawn from the Royal Household. | Lady Butler-Sloss told a preliminary High Court hearing that she wanted the inquest in May and did not want the panel drawn from the Royal Household. |
| She reserved her decision on whether there would be a jury or joint inquest. | She reserved her decision on whether there would be a jury or joint inquest. |
| A Metropolitan Police investigation last month concluded the 1997 Paris car crash in which Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died was a tragic accident. | A Metropolitan Police investigation last month concluded the 1997 Paris car crash in which Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died was a tragic accident. |
| Lady Butler-Sloss said she would hold a joint inquest if shown to have jurisdiction on the matter. | Lady Butler-Sloss said she would hold a joint inquest if shown to have jurisdiction on the matter. |
| She suggested it would be "unbelievably expensive" to hold separate inquests into the deaths. | She suggested it would be "unbelievably expensive" to hold separate inquests into the deaths. |
| March hearing | March hearing |
| The court was told at least 40 witnesses are likely to be called. There would be a need for interpreters and video-conferencing facilities. | The court was told at least 40 witnesses are likely to be called. There would be a need for interpreters and video-conferencing facilities. |
| Lady Butler-Sloss, who held the hearing in public after initially deciding it would be held in private, said separate inquests would also be upsetting for the families. | Lady Butler-Sloss, who held the hearing in public after initially deciding it would be held in private, said separate inquests would also be upsetting for the families. |
| Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Princes William and Harry, said they hoped the inquest would "move swiftly to a conclusion". | Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Princes William and Harry, said they hoped the inquest would "move swiftly to a conclusion". |
| Reserving her decision, Lady Butler-Sloss said: "I'd hope to give you my considered written answers by very early next week at the latest." | Reserving her decision, Lady Butler-Sloss said: "I'd hope to give you my considered written answers by very early next week at the latest." |
| "Because I am anxious to get going with this I would like to hold the next part of this at the beginning of March." | "Because I am anxious to get going with this I would like to hold the next part of this at the beginning of March." |
| 'Avoid bias' | 'Avoid bias' |
| As the proceedings got under way, Lady Butler-Sloss offered her "deepest sympathy" to the relatives and friends of the princess, 36, and Mr Al Fayed, 42. | As the proceedings got under way, Lady Butler-Sloss offered her "deepest sympathy" to the relatives and friends of the princess, 36, and Mr Al Fayed, 42. |
| The Princess of Wales's sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Princes William and Harry, were present for the start of the two-day hearing. | The Princess of Wales's sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Princes William and Harry, were present for the start of the two-day hearing. |
| As soon as I receive the coroner's report, I expect to make arrangements for hearing the inquests Lady Butler-Sloss href="/1/hi/uk/6241459.stm" class="">Packed courtroom for hearing href="/1/hi/uk/6241281.stm" class="">Q&A: Diana inquest | |
| Mr Al Fayed's father Mohamed, who is being represented by Michael Mansfield QC, was in court. | Mr Al Fayed's father Mohamed, who is being represented by Michael Mansfield QC, was in court. |
| Lawyers for driver Henri Paul, who also died, and sole survivor, bodyguard Trevor Rees, were also present. | Lawyers for driver Henri Paul, who also died, and sole survivor, bodyguard Trevor Rees, were also present. |
| In a written submission, the Queen's lawyer, Sir John Nutting QC, said a public jury would avoid an "appearance of bias". | In a written submission, the Queen's lawyer, Sir John Nutting QC, said a public jury would avoid an "appearance of bias". |
| BBC Royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the onus at the hearing would be on the legal team representing Mr Al Fayed's father Mohamed to prove why a jury would be needed. | BBC Royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the onus at the hearing would be on the legal team representing Mr Al Fayed's father Mohamed to prove why a jury would be needed. |
| Royal letter | Royal letter |
| Lady Butler-Sloss read out a section of a letter from Major Lowther-Pinkerton on the princes' behalf. | Lady Butler-Sloss read out a section of a letter from Major Lowther-Pinkerton on the princes' behalf. |
| "It is their desire that the inquest should not only be open, fair and transparent but that it should move swiftly to a conclusion," she said. | "It is their desire that the inquest should not only be open, fair and transparent but that it should move swiftly to a conclusion," she said. |
| She said she would be "extremely surprised" if Princes William and Harry would have to give evidence. | She said she would be "extremely surprised" if Princes William and Harry would have to give evidence. |
| Princess Diana and Mr Al Fayed died when their car crashed in 1997 | Princess Diana and Mr Al Fayed died when their car crashed in 1997 |
| Lady Butler-Sloss said there had been a delay in the inquest proceedings following extensive investigations into the crash in both the UK and France. | Lady Butler-Sloss said there had been a delay in the inquest proceedings following extensive investigations into the crash in both the UK and France. |
| "The police were asked to provide a separate report to assist the coroner," she said. | "The police were asked to provide a separate report to assist the coroner," she said. |
| "As soon as I receive the coroner's report, I expect to make arrangements for hearing the inquests." | "As soon as I receive the coroner's report, I expect to make arrangements for hearing the inquests." |
| The princess, 36, and Mr Al Fayed, 42, died when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel on 31 August 1997. | The princess, 36, and Mr Al Fayed, 42, died when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel on 31 August 1997. |
| They were pursued by paparazzi photographers after leaving the Ritz Hotel for Mr Al Fayed's apartment. | They were pursued by paparazzi photographers after leaving the Ritz Hotel for Mr Al Fayed's apartment. |
| A three-year inquiry, led by former Metropolitan Police chief Lord Stevens, found no evidence of a conspiracy to murder the couple. | A three-year inquiry, led by former Metropolitan Police chief Lord Stevens, found no evidence of a conspiracy to murder the couple. |
| Jury call | Jury call |
| Mr Mansfield criticised the timing of the report, saying it had given the impression that the Diana case was now closed. | Mr Mansfield criticised the timing of the report, saying it had given the impression that the Diana case was now closed. |
| Edmund Lawson, for the Met, responded: "The Commissioner stands by the decision to publish the report. It was not a decision taken lightly." | Edmund Lawson, for the Met, responded: "The Commissioner stands by the decision to publish the report. It was not a decision taken lightly." |
| Richard Keen QC, counsel for the parents of Mr Paul, suggested Lady Butler-Sloss may be associated with the conclusions of the report. | Richard Keen QC, counsel for the parents of Mr Paul, suggested Lady Butler-Sloss may be associated with the conclusions of the report. |
| However, Lady Butler-Sloss, who had agreed to the publication of the report, said: "I don't know whether its conclusions are right or not. I haven't heard the inquest." | However, Lady Butler-Sloss, who had agreed to the publication of the report, said: "I don't know whether its conclusions are right or not. I haven't heard the inquest." |
| Mr Keen said he did not propose that she should stand down, but that the case should be heard by a jury of ordinary members of the public to avoid any suggestion of bias. | Mr Keen said he did not propose that she should stand down, but that the case should be heard by a jury of ordinary members of the public to avoid any suggestion of bias. |
| Lady Butler-Sloss said she had "not even begun" to think about the scope of the inquest, but added: "There is much in what Lord Stevens' report says which is capable of challenge." | Lady Butler-Sloss said she had "not even begun" to think about the scope of the inquest, but added: "There is much in what Lord Stevens' report says which is capable of challenge." |
| Ian Croxford QC, representing the Ritz Hotel, said an appearance of bias attached to the coroner could be removed by the imposition of a jury. | Ian Croxford QC, representing the Ritz Hotel, said an appearance of bias attached to the coroner could be removed by the imposition of a jury. |
| "This case is the best example one can presently think of - given the nine, nearly 10 years of intense media interest - when a jury should be brought in," he said. | "This case is the best example one can presently think of - given the nine, nearly 10 years of intense media interest - when a jury should be brought in," he said. |
| Police probe | Police probe |
| The inquiry report said Mr Paul was speeding and over the legal drink-drive limit. | The inquiry report said Mr Paul was speeding and over the legal drink-drive limit. |
| The police investigation was requested by royal coroner Michael Burgess when the inquests were opened and adjourned in January 2004. | The police investigation was requested by royal coroner Michael Burgess when the inquests were opened and adjourned in January 2004. |
| Mohamed Al Fayed wants a jury to hear the inquest | Mohamed Al Fayed wants a jury to hear the inquest |
| Mr Burgess subsequently stepped down blaming a heavy workload. | Mr Burgess subsequently stepped down blaming a heavy workload. |
| Mohamed Al Fayed said Lord Stevens' "highly unsatisfactory" report left questions "unanswered". | Mohamed Al Fayed said Lord Stevens' "highly unsatisfactory" report left questions "unanswered". |
| He mounted a legal challenge for the preliminary hearing into the inquest to be held in public. | He mounted a legal challenge for the preliminary hearing into the inquest to be held in public. |
| UK law states inquests must be held in public but early hearings need not be. | UK law states inquests must be held in public but early hearings need not be. |
| Speaking before the hearing began, a spokesman for Mohamed Al Fayed said: "He is hoping for openness and transparency and the appointment of a jury of ordinary people so that all the facts can be put before the British people." | Speaking before the hearing began, a spokesman for Mohamed Al Fayed said: "He is hoping for openness and transparency and the appointment of a jury of ordinary people so that all the facts can be put before the British people." |