This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6263901.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Diana inquest to sit with no jury | Diana inquest to sit with no jury |
| (20 minutes 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 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. |
| 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 examine the deaths in Paris of the princess and Dodi Al Fayed. |
| Lawyers for Mohamed Al Fayed had argued in favour of a public jury. | Lawyers for Mohamed Al Fayed had argued in favour of a public jury. |
| Conspiracy theories | Conspiracy theories |
| Lady Butler-Sloss appealed for any attempts to challenge her decision to be made promptly. | |
| In a 34-page document, she considered the arguments in favour of sitting with a 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. | |
| 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." |
| 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. |
| 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. |