View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
February 26, 2007updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Diana inquest should have a jury, says lawyer for al Fayed

By Press Gazette

The lawyer of Harrods boss Mohammed al Fayed has called for a jury to be appointed at the forthcoming Diana inquest so they can make recommendations to curb the actions of journalists.

Michael Beloff QC, counsel for Ritz Hotels, was at the appeal court this week challenging the decision of Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, a former Appeal Court judge and retired head of the High Court's Family Division, to sit alone on the inquest rather than with a jury.

He argued that if a jury were appointed, they might be able to make recommendations to help other people in the public eye hounded by the paparazzi, including Prince William's girlfriend Kate Middleton.

Beloff said: "There is no doubt at all on the evidence available that the paparazzi were involved in the pursuit of the vehicle which crashed on the night in question.

"We respectfully submit that it is quite clear that this is, alas, a recurrent problem in contemporary society.

"There are those who have in recent months — in particular in regard to Kate Middleton — said there is an eerie similarity in the way in which the paparazzi are now hounding this young woman and the way in which they hounded the late Princess Diana."

Other members of the Royal Family, and those who fell within the definition of "celebrity, in the most elastic sense", might be similarly harassed, he said.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Beloff added: "Also, there is a risk to bystanders present when this kind of hot pursuit is engaged upon."

Judges are expected to give a ruling in the case later this week.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network