Word: dianas
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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...
...evidence. Referred to by Baker as "uncontroversial," these are the facts that nobody is contesting: a basic chronology of events leading up to the crash; a video of a car retracing the route from the Ritz to the Pont de l'Alma tunnel; and security tape footage of Diana and Dodi at the hotel. There's more chronology to come on Thursday, then a visit to Paris to see the tunnel and the hotel early next week. After that, the inquest gets into the details, and things get more complicated...
...they would be hearing over the next six months and what they were expected to do with it all. Officially, an inquest tries to answer four key questions: who died, when, where and how? It is required by law whenever anyone dies of anything other than natural causes. But Diana and Dodi weren't just anyone. "Much has been written or broadcast [about their deaths]," Baker said, "often showing a disregard for the facts." So along with answering the four key questions, he gave the jury another task: "to allay suspicion and rumor," to give the public a chance...
...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...
...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...