Word: bakers
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...jury at the inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed, the next six months could be the longest - and most confusing - half-year of their lives. As the coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker wrapped up his opening statement on Wednesday, the men and women tasked with deciding, once and for all, how the couple died finally have a full picture of the road ahead. And it's not going to be smooth...
...seven hours that followed, Baker walked the jury through the events on the night of the crash and the two months leading up to it. Along the way, he plucked out - and then crushed - some of the main elements of Britain's favorite conspiracy theory; the same ones that Dodi's father, Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, points to as evidence to support his allegation that the secret service murdered the couple on Prince Philip's orders...
...played down several issues that would have supported Al Fayed's obsessive quest. For example, the jury will have to consider whether or not Diana was pregnant when she died. But Baker showed them the photo that some say proves she was, one in which a swimsuit-clad Diana appears to have a rounded belly - then stated that it was taken before Diana and Dodi even met. On claims that the couple were engaged, Baker noted that, yes, Diana had once teased journalists with a promise that "you're going to get a big surprise" - but, again, that was before...
...seemed to be picking apart Al Fayed's case, Baker made it clear that the murder allegations would be taken seriously, that the inquests would explore all the points - 10 of them in total - that Al Fayed's legal team say support their claim that the crash was no accident, and that Al Fayed (or his lawyer, at least) will have his day in court...
...Baker was also sending out another message, more subtle, but just as clear: Move on folks, nothing to see here. By shooting down the juiciest rumors surrounding the inquests, Baker has cut the circus off at the pass. Now jurors, the press and the public know what's coming, there's no room for giddy speculation or shocking revelations from the stand. All that's left, Baker is hoping, is six months of just-the-facts and a chance for the world to finally put Diana to rest. Whether or not he gets what he wants - that's another question...