Inquest into Diana's death begins

An inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales,and her companion Dodi Fayed began inLondon Tuesday, more than 10 years after the high-profile couple died in a Paris car crash.

Six women and five men will hear six months of testimony aimed at determining, among other things, how the two died on Aug. 31, 1997.

Lord Justice Scott Baker began the inquest, which follows two exhaustive police investigations in Britain and France, by instructingthe jury on what to expect in the coming months.

"Justice Baker said, very pressingly I think, 'You will be in the public eye as no inquest jury has ever been.' That is certainly the case for the 11 men and women who are gathered here today," the CBC's Harry Forestell said outside the courthouse, where hordes of journalists have set up camp.

Police investigators found that chauffeur Henri Paul was drunk when the speeding Mercedes Diana and Fayed were riding in struck a pillar at the Pont d'Alma tunnel. All three died. A bodyguard also in the vehicle was severely injured.

At the time of the crash, Diana, 36, and Fayed, 42, were being chased by paparazzi seeking photographs of the princess.

Fayed's father, Mohamed al Fayed, maintains that the couple were victims of a conspiracy led by the British establishment, including the Queen's husband, Prince Philip, and security services.

The millionaire owner of Harrods department store alleges that the monarchy was chagrined by rumours that Diana was pregnant with Fayed'schild and the two were about to be engaged.

"I believe my son and Princess Diana have been murdered by the Royal family," Al Fayed said outside the court.His legal teamwill participate in the inquest.

An investigation by former London police chief John Stevens — which later became an 871-page book — refuted the claim that the couple was killed intentionally or that Diana and Fayed wereset to marry and have a child.

"Nothing in the very rapid sequence of events we have reconstructed supports the allegation of conspiracy to murder," Stevens said.

Crash ruled an accident

A French judge came to the same conclusion in 1999, ruling that the chauffeur was drunk and the crash was an accident.

The jury has no authority to lay blame for the death of Diana and Fayed. It can only determine who died, when and where, and how.

During the jury selection process, potential jurorswere instructed to ignore the overwhelming news coverage, as well as books and TV documentaries, that came out of the case.

Inquiry proceedings will include a visit by the jury to the crash scene in Paris. All testimony and documents from the inquest will be posted online.

It is unlikely that Queen Elizabeth or PrincePhilip will testify afterthe inquiryjudge in July removed them from the witness list.