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Diana inquest to be heard by jury | Diana inquest to be heard by jury |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A jury should hear the inquests into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed, the High Court has ruled. | A jury should hear the inquests into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed, the High Court has ruled. |
Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed won a ruling overturning deputy royal coroner Baroness Butler-Sloss's decision that she would sit alone. | Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed won a ruling overturning deputy royal coroner Baroness Butler-Sloss's decision that she would sit alone. |
Three senior judges said the inquests should be heard by a jury, a decision Mr Al Fayed said was a "good victory". | Three senior judges said the inquests should be heard by a jury, a decision Mr Al Fayed said was a "good victory". |
The princess and Dodi died in 1997 in a road crash in Paris. Their inquests are scheduled to start in May. | The princess and Dodi died in 1997 in a road crash in Paris. Their inquests are scheduled to start in May. |
Speaking after the ruling, Mr Al Fayed said: "It's a good victory but it's just the start of my battle for the last 10 years to find justice." | Speaking after the ruling, Mr Al Fayed said: "It's a good victory but it's just the start of my battle for the last 10 years to find justice." |
Royal witnesses | Royal witnesses |
He called for senior members of the Royal Family, Prince Philip and Prince Charles, to take to the witness box. | He called for senior members of the Royal Family, Prince Philip and Prince Charles, to take to the witness box. |
In an earlier ruling, Lady Butler-Sloss said only a coroner could give the "careful and fully reasoned decision" the inquests required. | In an earlier ruling, Lady Butler-Sloss said only a coroner could give the "careful and fully reasoned decision" the inquests required. |
But on Friday, High Court judges ruled against her. | But on Friday, High Court judges ruled against her. |
Diana and Dodi had been pursued by photographers | Diana and Dodi had been pursued by photographers |
They said their main reason for quashing her decision not to sit with a jury was that the Diana case occurred in circumstances which, if repeated, could be "prejudicial to the safety of sections of the public". | They said their main reason for quashing her decision not to sit with a jury was that the Diana case occurred in circumstances which, if repeated, could be "prejudicial to the safety of sections of the public". |
In such cases the coroner must summon a jury, according to the law. | In such cases the coroner must summon a jury, according to the law. |
They referred to reported similarities between the treatment by the paparazzi of Kate Middleton, Prince William's girlfriend, and Diana. | They referred to reported similarities between the treatment by the paparazzi of Kate Middleton, Prince William's girlfriend, and Diana. |
A jury was the appropriate body to make recommendations for changes to the law to stop similar harassment of royalty and celebrities in the future, the judges said. | A jury was the appropriate body to make recommendations for changes to the law to stop similar harassment of royalty and celebrities in the future, the judges said. |
They also ruled Lady Butler-Sloss should not sit as coroner to the Royal Household. | They also ruled Lady Butler-Sloss should not sit as coroner to the Royal Household. |
'Open and fair' | 'Open and fair' |
A spokeswoman at the Royal Courts of Justice dismissed earlier reports that Lady Butler-Sloss would stand down as a result of the High Court's decision. | A spokeswoman at the Royal Courts of Justice dismissed earlier reports that Lady Butler-Sloss would stand down as a result of the High Court's decision. |
She added she would sit as coroner of "some sort", although they were still assessing the meaning of part of the ruling on her status in the case. | |
This is the second successful challenge for Mr Al Fayed, who earlier persuaded Lady Butler-Sloss to hold a preliminary hearing in public, rather than private. | |
She was said to have changed her mind because of public interest in the case. | |
Clarence House declined to comment on the High Court ruling saying it was a matter for the courts, but pointed to a letter written to the court on behalf of Princes William and Harry. | |
They wrote that they wanted an open and fair inquest that concluded swiftly. | They wrote that they wanted an open and fair inquest that concluded swiftly. |
A pre-inquest hearing is due to take place on 5 March. | A pre-inquest hearing is due to take place on 5 March. |
The two inquests planned for May, will be held concurrently. | The two inquests planned for May, will be held concurrently. |
The princess, Dodi Al Fayed, and driver Henri Paul died when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris on 31 August 1997. | The princess, Dodi Al Fayed, and driver Henri Paul died when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris on 31 August 1997. |
They were being pursued by photographers after leaving the Ritz Hotel for Mr Al Fayed's apartment. | They were being pursued by photographers after leaving the Ritz Hotel for Mr Al Fayed's apartment. |