Byrner
03-18-2008, 04:39 PM
Mohamed Al Fayed's lawyers are going to the High Court in a bid to overturn a decision not to call Prince Philip to give evidence at the Diana inquest.
The Harrods owner's legal team are seeking leave for a judicial review of a judgement earlier this month by the coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker.
He ruled it was not expedient to call Prince Philip and that the Queen should not be asked to answer questions.
Meanwhile, at the inquest, Mr Al Fayed has been recalled to the witness box.
The move was made in order for the Harrods owner to clarify his original evidence given on 18 February.
Meanwhile, Mr Al Fayed's legal team will appear before three judges later on Tuesday to put forward their arguments.
It comes after Lord Justice Baker ruled that neither calling the Duke of Edinburgh to give evidence, or getting the Queen to answer questions posed by Mr Al Fayed's barristers would "further the inquest process".
Mr Al Fayed's son, Dodi, died in the 1997 car crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris, which also claimed the life of Princess Diana.
They believe the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen have information which they alone can give this inquest
The latest legal move, if successful, could prolong the inquest, which had been drawing to a close as the last few witnesses were being heard.
However, BBC Royal Correspondent Daniela Relph said Mr Al Fayed's legal team "are particularly keen to stress that they do not want this to be perceived in any way as a delaying tactic" and "do not anticipate that it will cause any delay".
"They say that they believe the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen have information which they alone can give this inquest," she said.
She added that Mr Al Fayed's team "believe they have a valid legal argument", adding that "the Duke of Edinburgh is a subject of the crown, just like you and me".
News Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7302503.stm
The Harrods owner's legal team are seeking leave for a judicial review of a judgement earlier this month by the coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker.
He ruled it was not expedient to call Prince Philip and that the Queen should not be asked to answer questions.
Meanwhile, at the inquest, Mr Al Fayed has been recalled to the witness box.
The move was made in order for the Harrods owner to clarify his original evidence given on 18 February.
Meanwhile, Mr Al Fayed's legal team will appear before three judges later on Tuesday to put forward their arguments.
It comes after Lord Justice Baker ruled that neither calling the Duke of Edinburgh to give evidence, or getting the Queen to answer questions posed by Mr Al Fayed's barristers would "further the inquest process".
Mr Al Fayed's son, Dodi, died in the 1997 car crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris, which also claimed the life of Princess Diana.
They believe the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen have information which they alone can give this inquest
The latest legal move, if successful, could prolong the inquest, which had been drawing to a close as the last few witnesses were being heard.
However, BBC Royal Correspondent Daniela Relph said Mr Al Fayed's legal team "are particularly keen to stress that they do not want this to be perceived in any way as a delaying tactic" and "do not anticipate that it will cause any delay".
"They say that they believe the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen have information which they alone can give this inquest," she said.
She added that Mr Al Fayed's team "believe they have a valid legal argument", adding that "the Duke of Edinburgh is a subject of the crown, just like you and me".
News Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7302503.stm