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Inquest due into Dodi Fayed death
LONDON, England -- An inquest is to be held soon into the death of Princess Diana's boyfriend Dodi Fayed, who died with her in a Paris car crash six years ago, British authorities say. Diana, 36, and Dodi Fayed, 42, were killed along with chauffeur Henri Paul when their Mercedes crashed in an underpass on August 31, 1997. A spokesman for Surrey County Council told the UK Press Association that Surrey Coroner Michael Burgess would head the inquest -- the first official public hearing into the crash on British soil. "This does not mean there is an inquest into Diana or a joint inquest," the spokesman said. "We are expecting the coroner to announce a date for Dodi's inquest imminently, but we still don't have that date." He said a venue for the inquest for Fayed, who is buried in Surrey, had yet to be decided, but said special arrangements would probably have to be made due to media interest in the case. A spokesman for Fayed's father, Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed, gave a cautious welcome to the news. "We have not been advised and our lawyers have not been told of any plans to go ahead with the inquest which we have been pressing for for six years," he told PA. "However, if it is the coroner's intention to hold a joint inquest with a jury then Mr. al Fayed would welcome that." Al Fayed has campaigned for a public inquiry, saying the crash was no accident and suggesting it was a murder conspiracy plotted by those who disapproved of Diana's relationship with his son. To date, investigations have been conducted by the French courts which concluded that driver Henri Paul was on a cocktail of drink and prescription drugs and lost control of the Mercedes car because he was speeding. (Full story) Paparazzi photographers and a press motorcyclist were exonerated of any responsibility for the crash beneath the Point D'Alma. (Full story) Al Fayed appealed, but lost the case at the Court of Cassation in April 2002. The Prince of Wales's office told PA said it would be cooperating fully with the inquest into Fayed's death.
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