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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Fayed bids for open Diana hearing | Fayed bids for open Diana hearing |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Mohammed Al Fayed has mounted a legal challenge over plans to make key decisions about the inquest of Princess Diana and his son Dodi in private. | Mohammed Al Fayed has mounted a legal challenge over plans to make key decisions about the inquest of Princess Diana and his son Dodi in private. |
| The initial inquest hearings into the death of the pair in a car crash in 1997 will be held behind closed doors on 8 and 9 January. | |
| Meanwhile the Metropolitan Police said a report they have compiled on the crash will be released on 14 December. | Meanwhile the Metropolitan Police said a report they have compiled on the crash will be released on 14 December. |
| It follows a three-year inquiry led by ex-Met Police head Lord Stevens. | It follows a three-year inquiry led by ex-Met Police head Lord Stevens. |
| Mr Al Fayed has already claimed that Lord Stevens' inquiry had failed to take statements from at least 13 eyewitnesses and other vital witnesses, and had "largely ignored" views of "a number of eminent independent experts". | Mr Al Fayed has already claimed that Lord Stevens' inquiry had failed to take statements from at least 13 eyewitnesses and other vital witnesses, and had "largely ignored" views of "a number of eminent independent experts". |
| "It is shocking that the investigation has been deliberately cut short," he said. | "It is shocking that the investigation has been deliberately cut short," he said. |
| I simply ask for honesty, fairness and openness Mohammed Al Fayed | I simply ask for honesty, fairness and openness Mohammed Al Fayed |
| "Equally distasteful is the attempt to keep any hearings secret." | "Equally distasteful is the attempt to keep any hearings secret." |
| Mr Al Fayed is also seeking a judicial review of what he says is a decision by Lady Butler-Sloss, who is in charge of the proceedings, to hold the early stages of the inquest behind closed doors. | Mr Al Fayed is also seeking a judicial review of what he says is a decision by Lady Butler-Sloss, who is in charge of the proceedings, to hold the early stages of the inquest behind closed doors. |
| It is at this stage that decisions on whether it will be a joint inquest and whether a jury will sit will be made. | It is at this stage that decisions on whether it will be a joint inquest and whether a jury will sit will be made. |
| 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. |
| 'Cover up continues' | 'Cover up continues' |
| A spokesman for Lady Butler-Sloss said she had no comment to make and did not want to be drawn on the issue. She has yet to officially confirm the arrangements for the hearings. | A spokesman for Lady Butler-Sloss said she had no comment to make and did not want to be drawn on the issue. She has yet to officially confirm the arrangements for the hearings. |
| A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said that there was "no statutory requirement for pre-inquest hearings to be held in public as they are not part of the inquest". | A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said that there was "no statutory requirement for pre-inquest hearings to be held in public as they are not part of the inquest". |
| The Egyptian businessman has repeatedly claimed that Princess Diana and his son were murdered in a plot by the British establishment. | The Egyptian businessman has repeatedly claimed that Princess Diana and his son were murdered in a plot by the British establishment. |
| He accused Lady Butler-Sloss of attempting to "ensure that the cover-up continues". | He accused Lady Butler-Sloss of attempting to "ensure that the cover-up continues". |
| "A jury of 12 ordinary people should hear all the facts and make up their own minds," he said. "I simply ask for honesty, fairness and openness." | "A jury of 12 ordinary people should hear all the facts and make up their own minds," he said. "I simply ask for honesty, fairness and openness." |
| "For that reason, I have instructed my legal team to seek judicial review to compel Dame Butler-Sloss to hold all hearings in public so that Britain and the world at large may judge for themselves." | "For that reason, I have instructed my legal team to seek judicial review to compel Dame Butler-Sloss to hold all hearings in public so that Britain and the world at large may judge for themselves." |
| Paris tunnel | Paris tunnel |
| Officials have confirmed that first preliminary hearings in the inquest are expected to take place early in the New Year. | Officials have confirmed that first preliminary hearings in the inquest are expected to take place early in the New Year. |
| Lady Butler-Sloss was appointed to her new role after the Coroner of the Queen's Household, Michael Burgess, stepped down from the task in July. | Lady Butler-Sloss was appointed to her new role after the Coroner of the Queen's Household, Michael Burgess, stepped down from the task in July. |
| Diana, 36, and Mr Fayed, 42, were killed along with chauffeur Henri Paul when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris nine years ago. | Diana, 36, and Mr Fayed, 42, were killed along with chauffeur Henri Paul when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris nine years ago. |
| They were pursued by paparazzi photographers after leaving the Ritz Hotel for Mr Fayed's apartment. | They were pursued by paparazzi photographers after leaving the Ritz Hotel for Mr Fayed's apartment. |
| A two-year investigation in France blamed Mr Paul for losing control of the car because he was high on drink and prescription drugs and driving too fast. | A two-year investigation in France blamed Mr Paul for losing control of the car because he was high on drink and prescription drugs and driving too fast. |