Judge rejects jurors in inquest

LONDON – A British judge ruled that members of the royal staff would not be jurors in an inquest to determine how Princess Diana and her boyfriend died in a Paris car crash 10 years ago, casting aside royal convention.

Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss decided Monday that it would be “inappropriate” for a royal jury to be called, the usual procedure for an inquest into the death of a royal family member. Any jury would be made up of ordinary citizens, although she may decide the case alone.Diana’s sons, Princes William and Harry, were not present, but their private secretary attended, and Butler-Sloss read out a letter filed on their behalf.”It is their desire that the inquest should not only be open, fair and transparent but that it should move swiftly to a conclusion,” said the letter, written by Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to the princes.The hearing was procedural, and no evidence was heard by Butler-Sloss, a now-retired senior judge who was appointed as a royal coroner.Butler-Sloss opened the hearings by offering her sympathy to the couple’s families: Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Diana’s older sister, sat on one side of the courtroom; Mohamed al Fayed, Dodi’s father, on the other.A two-year French investigation, a three-year Metropolitan Police inquiry and repeated legal action by al Fayed have delayed the inquests by nearly 10 years.It is likely the inquest – which, under British law, must be held when someone dies violently, unexpectedly, or of unknown causes – will begin in early May, Butler-Sloss said.”The reality is that there are victims in this case who want the matter brought to a close so the victims can at last move on,” said lawyer Ian Lucas, who was representing Diana’s former bodyguard.Butler-Sloss replied: “I, too, would like to say for the benefit of the relatives and friends of all those involved that this is dealt with as quickly as possible.”One of the issues this procedural hearing was attempting to resolve was whether the inquest would have a jury, and what form it would take.Nampa-APAny jury would be made up of ordinary citizens, although she may decide the case alone.Diana’s sons, Princes William and Harry, were not present, but their private secretary attended, and Butler-Sloss read out a letter filed on their behalf.”It is their desire that the inquest should not only be open, fair and transparent but that it should move swiftly to a conclusion,” said the letter, written by Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to the princes.The hearing was procedural, and no evidence was heard by Butler-Sloss, a now-retired senior judge who was appointed as a royal coroner.Butler-Sloss opened the hearings by offering her sympathy to the couple’s families: Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Diana’s older sister, sat on one side of the courtroom; Mohamed al Fayed, Dodi’s father, on the other.A two-year French investigation, a three-year Metropolitan Police inquiry and repeated legal action by al Fayed have delayed the inquests by nearly 10 years.It is likely the inquest – which, under British law, must be held when someone dies violently, unexpectedly, or of unknown causes – will begin in early May, Butler-Sloss said.”The reality is that there are victims in this case who want the matter brought to a close so the victims can at last move on,” said lawyer Ian Lucas, who was representing Diana’s former bodyguard.Butler-Sloss replied: “I, too, would like to say for the benefit of the relatives and friends of all those involved that this is dealt with as quickly as possible.”One of the issues this procedural hearing was attempting to resolve was whether the inquest would have a jury, and what form it would take.Nampa-AP