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| Diana coroner issues cost warning | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The new coroner at the inquest into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed has warned all parties to the case to keep costs under control. | |
| Lord Justice Scott Baker was holding his first preliminary hearing at the High Court. | |
| He insisted that "tight discipline" was necessary to keep the bill to the taxpayer within "reasonable bounds". | |
| The judge is the fourth person to take on the role. He was appointed after Baroness Butler-Sloss resigned. | |
| The inquests are due to begin in October and are expected to last between four and eight months. | The inquests are due to begin in October and are expected to last between four and eight months. |
| A police investigation led by Lord Stevens concluded in 2006 that there had been no conspiracy to murder and the Paris crash had been a tragic accident. | |
| 'Heavy and constant' | |
| Lord Justice Baker told the hearing that they must be open, fair and accurate, but that unnecessary witnesses should not be called. | |
| He said: "The costs are going to be considerable, bearing in mind the events took place in France and many of the witnesses are French and live abroad. | |
| The longer the inquests last, the greater those costs will be Lord Justice Scott Baker | |
| "The longer the inquests last, the greater those costs will be. | |
| "It is the duty of all of us to keep them within reasonable bounds." | |
| At the last hearing in May in front of Lady Butler-Sloss, lawyers for Dodi's father Mohamed Al Fayed, launched a bid to involve the Queen in the inquests. | At the last hearing in May in front of Lady Butler-Sloss, lawyers for Dodi's father Mohamed Al Fayed, launched a bid to involve the Queen in the inquests. |
| The Harrods owner also wants Prince Charles and Prince Philip to be examined in the witness box. | The Harrods owner also wants Prince Charles and Prince Philip to be examined in the witness box. |
| Lord Justice Baker is one of the country's most senior judges and has more than 40 years' experience. | Lord Justice Baker is one of the country's most senior judges and has more than 40 years' experience. |
| He has been working alongside Lady Butler-Sloss since she announced her plan to step down. She said she lacked the experience of juries needed to handle the case. | He has been working alongside Lady Butler-Sloss since she announced her plan to step down. She said she lacked the experience of juries needed to handle the case. |
| Lady Butler-Sloss had taken over the case last year after the previous royal coroner, Michael Burgess, quit blaming a "heavy and constant" workload. | Lady Butler-Sloss had taken over the case last year after the previous royal coroner, Michael Burgess, quit blaming a "heavy and constant" workload. |
| Tenth anniversary | Tenth anniversary |
| The inquest process has been beset by problems and delays. | The inquest process has been beset by problems and delays. |
| Royal coroner Dr John Burton took responsibility for the princess's body following her death in a car crash in 1997, but he retired in 2002. | Royal coroner Dr John Burton took responsibility for the princess's body following her death in a car crash in 1997, but he retired in 2002. |
| Princes appear on US TV | Princes appear on US TV |
| Lady Butler-Sloss took over last September after Mr Burgess stepped down, but just three months later she was forced to back down over plans to hold the inquests in private. | Lady Butler-Sloss took over last September after Mr Burgess stepped down, but just three months later she was forced to back down over plans to hold the inquests in private. |
| Then, Mohamed Al Fayed won a judicial review against her decision to sit without a jury. | Then, Mohamed Al Fayed won a judicial review against her decision to sit without a jury. |
| Meanwhile, Princes William and Harry have requested a swift end to the process as they prepare to mark the tenth anniversary of their mother's death this summer. | Meanwhile, Princes William and Harry have requested a swift end to the process as they prepare to mark the tenth anniversary of their mother's death this summer. |
| The princes spoke at length about the death of their mother in an interview broadcast on American television on Tuesday. | The princes spoke at length about the death of their mother in an interview broadcast on American television on Tuesday. |
| Prince Harry said "no-one will ever know" what happened in the tunnel where the crash took place, while Prince William said "there's not a day goes by I don't think about it". | Prince Harry said "no-one will ever know" what happened in the tunnel where the crash took place, while Prince William said "there's not a day goes by I don't think about it". |