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Diana inquest to sit with no jury Diana inquest to sit with no jury
(about 1 hour later)
The inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales will not be heard by a jury, the coroner has said. The inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997 will not be heard by a jury, the coroner has said.
Lady Elizabeth Butler-Sloss had been considering sitting with a jury of the public, after already rejecting a jury of members of the royal household.Lady Elizabeth Butler-Sloss had been considering sitting with a jury of the public, after already rejecting a jury of members of the royal household.
But she decided to hear the case alone after scrutinising legal arguments delivered at the High Court last week.But she decided to hear the case alone after scrutinising legal arguments delivered at the High Court last week.
Lawyers for Mohamed Al Fayed, whose son Dodi also died in the 1997 Paris crash, had argued in favour of a public jury. The inquest, expected to take place in May, will examine the deaths in Paris of the princess and Dodi Al Fayed.
The inquest, expected to take place in May, will deal with the deaths of both Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed. Lawyers for Mohamed Al Fayed had argued in favour of a public jury.
Conspiracy theoriesConspiracy theories
The inquest can proceed following the publication of Lord Stevens' findings last month. In a 34-page document, Lady Butler-Sloss considered the arguments in favour of sitting with a jury.
Lord Stevens dismissed many of the conspiracy theories surrounding the fatal incidents which took place in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris on 31 August 1997. She pointed to the assertion she would be perceived as biased because she gave her backing to Lord Stevens's report into the deaths - which dismissed many of the conspiracy theories surrounding the crash.
His report concluded that the crash was nothing more than a tragic accident and driver Henri Paul was drunk and driving too fast. But she refuted any allegations of bias.
She accepted that the "intense public interest" in the deaths had to be taken into account - but said it could be used in arguments for or against having a jury.
"The disadvantage of a jury is the need in these inquests to have a careful and fully reasoned decision reviewing all the relevant evidence and providing a clear conclusion as to by what means and in what circumstances the princess and Dodi Al Fayed died," she said.
"Such a reasoned decision can only be given by the coroner and cannot be given by a jury."
The Stevens report concluded that the crash, in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris on 31 August 1997, was a tragic accident, and that driver Henri Paul was drunk and driving too fast.
Mohamed Al Fayed maintains the couple were murdered and claims their deaths were part of a secret plot by the British establishment.Mohamed Al Fayed maintains the couple were murdered and claims their deaths were part of a secret plot by the British establishment.
At least 40 witnesses will give evidence at the full inquest.At least 40 witnesses will give evidence at the full inquest.