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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Plea for new Diana inquest delay | Plea for new Diana inquest delay |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Lawyers have asked for inquests into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed to be put back for six months. | Lawyers have asked for inquests into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed to be put back for six months. |
| The lawyers, representing Mohamed Al Fayed, want the hearings postponed until 1 October because there is still a "massive amount of work" to do. | The lawyers, representing Mohamed Al Fayed, want the hearings postponed until 1 October because there is still a "massive amount of work" to do. |
| Baroness Butler-Sloss, who will hear the inquests, is also deciding whether Prince Charles and Prince Philip will be called as witnesses at the hearings. | |
| The princess and Dodi Al Fayed died in 1997 in a road crash in Paris. | |
| Their inquests are scheduled to start in May. | |
| Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed won a High Court ruling on Friday that the inquests should be heard before a jury. | Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed won a High Court ruling on Friday that the inquests should be heard before a jury. |
| I would be very sad if I was obliged to delay the start of the main proceedings for another six months Baroness Butler-Sloss | I would be very sad if I was obliged to delay the start of the main proceedings for another six months Baroness Butler-Sloss |
| The decision overturned a ruling by deputy royal coroner Lady Butler-Sloss that she would sit alone. | The decision overturned a ruling by deputy royal coroner Lady Butler-Sloss that she would sit alone. |
| Mr Al Fayed wants Prince Charles and Prince Philip to give evidence. | |
| He maintains Diana and his son were murdered and claims their deaths were part of a secret plot by the British establishment. | |
| At a pre-inquest hearing on Monday Michael Mansfield QC, representing Mr Al Fayed, said a six-month delay would be "a pebble on the beach" compared with the 10-year wait for an inquest. | At a pre-inquest hearing on Monday Michael Mansfield QC, representing Mr Al Fayed, said a six-month delay would be "a pebble on the beach" compared with the 10-year wait for an inquest. |
| In written submissions to Lady Butler-Sloss Mr Al Fayed's legal team said expert witnesses had a "massive amount of work" to do before they could be called to give evidence. | In written submissions to Lady Butler-Sloss Mr Al Fayed's legal team said expert witnesses had a "massive amount of work" to do before they could be called to give evidence. |
| The submissions added "interested persons" could only begin a "phenomenal amount of work" after the findings of an inquiry into the case by former Met Police chief Lord Stevens were released in December. | The submissions added "interested persons" could only begin a "phenomenal amount of work" after the findings of an inquiry into the case by former Met Police chief Lord Stevens were released in December. |
| Lady Butler-Sloss told the court: "I would be very sad if I was obliged to delay the start of the main proceedings for another six months. I feel that would be very, very hard on the families." | Lady Butler-Sloss told the court: "I would be very sad if I was obliged to delay the start of the main proceedings for another six months. I feel that would be very, very hard on the families." |
| Murder claim | Murder claim |
| Mr Mansfield also called for the inquest to be heard at a venue other than the Royal Courts of Justice, which he said was too small. | Mr Mansfield also called for the inquest to be heard at a venue other than the Royal Courts of Justice, which he said was too small. |
| But Lady Butler-Sloss said she hoped Court 73 at the Royal Courts of Justice could be made suitable. | But Lady Butler-Sloss said she hoped Court 73 at the Royal Courts of Justice could be made suitable. |
| At the hearing on Monday Lady Butler-Sloss is to consider who to call as witnesses at the inquests. | At the hearing on Monday Lady Butler-Sloss is to consider who to call as witnesses at the inquests. |
| The princess and Mr Al Fayed had been pursued by photographers on 31 August when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris. | |
| The Stevens inquiry concluded that Diana had died in a tragic accident and there had been no conspiracy and no cover-up. | The Stevens inquiry concluded that Diana had died in a tragic accident and there had been no conspiracy and no cover-up. |