Princes William, Harry want 'transparent probe' into Diana's death

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January 08, 2007 20:36 IST

A joint inquest into the deaths of Princess Diana and her lover Dodi Al Fayed got underway in Britain on Monday, with Princes William and Harry, Diana's sons, asking for an open, fair and transparent probe into what led to the fatal crash in a Paris subway a decade ago.

The dramatic intervention came at a court hearing to establish how the inquest into the 1997 crash should be held.

In a letter read to the court, Princess Diana's sons expressed their desire that the inquest should not only be open, fair and transparent but move swiftly to a conclusion.

They indicated that they would not be making any further comment and make no representation at the hearing.

A letter was also submitted by Diana's sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale on behalf of their mother Lord Althorp and their sister Lady Jane Fellowes.

She noted that her family's views were identical to that of William and Harry.

The Queen on Monday agreed that the inquest should be heard before a jury made up of the public and not royal aides.

Historically any inquest into the death of a royal must be heard before a jury made up of the Queen's household.

But a barrister acting for the Queen told the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice that the jury should be made up of ordinary members of the public to avoid any claims of bias.

Well known departmental store Harrods boss Mohamed Fayed, whose son Dodi Fayed also died in the crash, claimed they were the victims of an establishment plot and that there has been a cover up.

The Harrods boss has been pushing for an ordinary jury and wants a joint inquest which will investigate Diana and Dodi's deaths at the same time.

Lady Butler-Sloss told a preliminary hearing that she would hold a joint inquest if shown to have jurisdiction on the matter.

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