Jury in Princess Diana inquest retires to consider verdict
Wednesday, 02 Apr 2008 19:21
Princess Diana inquest jury have retired to consider their verdict
The jury at an inquest into Princess Diana's death has been sent out to consider their verdict, almost six months after the proceedings started.
Presiding judge Lord Justice Scott told the jury that "the conspiracy theory advanced by Mohamed Al Fayed has been minutely examined and shown to be without any substance".
Lord Scott added a verdict of unlawful killing on the part of anyone other than the driver of the Mercedes or the following vehicles, or both together, is not open to the jury.
The jury can return verdicts of death by gross negligence on the part of Henri Paul, the driver of the Mercedes, or the following paparazzi, or both; or accidental death or an open verdict.
An open verdict would mean the 11-strong jury did not believe there was enough evidence for any substantive verdict.
The judge said he wants a unanimous decision from the six men and five women of the jury.
"There is no pressure of time. Take as long as is necessary," he instructed them.
Diana and Dodi al-Fayed died in a car crash in Paris ten years ago. Dodi's father, Harrod's owner Mohamed al-Fayed, claimed his son and Diana were killed by MI6 on the orders of Prince Philip.
Mr Fayed believes the couple were killed because Diana was expecting Dodi's baby and the royal family did not want the mother of the future king to have a child with his son.
Another theory aired during the trial was that Diana was killed because her work on land mines found the British Government and 25 public figures were profiting from the proliferation of landmines in places like Angola and Bosnia.