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| Clash at Princess Diana hearing | Clash at Princess Diana hearing |
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| The coroner for the inquest into the death of Princess Diana has clashed with the QC representing Mohamed Al Fayed in a preliminary hearing. | The coroner for the inquest into the death of Princess Diana has clashed with the QC representing Mohamed Al Fayed in a preliminary hearing. |
| Lady Butler-Sloss and Michael Mansfield argued over "late" documents and where full inquests for Diana and Mr Al Fayed's son, Dodi, should be held. | |
| Lady Butler-Sloss, who will stand down as coroner in June, accused Mr Mansfield of putting her "in the dock". | Lady Butler-Sloss, who will stand down as coroner in June, accused Mr Mansfield of putting her "in the dock". |
| The princess and Dodi Al Fayed died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. | The princess and Dodi Al Fayed died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. |
| Lord Justice Scott Baker, one of Britain's most experienced judges, will take over as coroner for the inquests, which are expected to take place in October. | |
| Baroness Butler-Sloss will stand down in June | |
| Lady Butler-Sloss announced last month she would be stepping down because she lacked the experience required to deal with an inquest with a jury. | |
| She and Mr Mansfield clashed over news that Lord Justice Scott Baker wants to hear the full inquests in Court 73 at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. | |
| Mr Mansfield described the venue as "totally inadequate". | |
| He also denied the accusation that he was trying to dictate to the coroner, saying he was simply "making submissions". | |
| Plot accusation | |
| In July last year, then royal coroner Michael Burgess quit the inquests, blaming a "heavy and constant" workload. | |
| Lady Butler-Sloss, formerly president of the High Court Family Division, took on the role in September. | |
| The hearings were originally to take place in May but were put back until October after lawyers for Mohammed Al Fayed requested more time to allow them to prepare. | |
| This came after Harrods department store owner Mr Al Fayed won a High Court ruling that the inquests should be heard before a jury. | |
| Mr Al Fayed alleges the August 1997 Paris road crash which claimed the couple's lives was part of a secret plot by the British establishment. |