Accessibility links

Breaking News
News

Jury Selection Begins in Princess Diana Inquest


Jury selection in the Princess Diana inquest has begun in London, ahead of a full hearing next week to examine some of the most controversial aspects of her death 10 years ago in a Paris car crash.

The long-delayed inquest will examine Diana's last hours and the deaths of her companion Dodi al-Fayed and driver Henri Paul. The 11 jurors also are set to hear testimony related to allegations that Diana was pregnant and that she feared for her life in the weeks before her death. They also will travel to the crash scene and examine details of the post-mortem examination.

Diana's bodyguard survived the August 1997 crash and is expected to testify.

French and British police inquiries have concluded the crash was an accident and that driver Henri Paul was intoxicated when the crash occurred.

The British probe also said Diana and Fayed were not victims of an elaborate murder plot, as some have speculated.

Dodi's father, Mohamed al-Fayed, has claimed his son and Diana were victims of a murder plot orchestrated by Prince Philip and British security services. But he has not produced any public evidence to support those allegations.

In 2002, France's highest court dropped charges against photographers pursuing the fleeing car moments before it crashed. Three other paparazzi were acquitted a year later, in a lawsuit brought by Mohamed al-Fayed.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

XS
SM
MD
LG