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| Diana inquest to sit without jury | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997 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 made up of members of the public. | |
| 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. |
| Mohamed Al Fayed, whose son Dodi died with the princess in Paris, said it was a "shocking but predictable" decision not to have a jury at their inquest. | |
| The inquest is expected to be held in May. | |
| Conspiracy theories | Conspiracy theories |
| Lady Butler-Sloss's decision follows an earlier announcement in which she rejected having a jury made up of members of the royal household. | |
| In a 34-page document, she considered the arguments in favour of sitting with a public jury. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| But she denied any allegations of bias. | But she denied any allegations of bias. |
| Lady Butler-Sloss says a "fully reasoned decision" is needed | Lady Butler-Sloss says a "fully reasoned decision" is needed |
| 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. | 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. | "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." | "Such a reasoned decision can only be given by the coroner and cannot be given by a jury." |
| But Mr Al Fayed said: "The public, and in particular, a jury of ordinary people must hear all the evidence, in front of an independent and fair-minded coroner." | |
| He said he has instructed lawyers to take "all possible steps" towards achieving a public 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. | 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. |
| Mr 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. |