Witness statement of Mohamed Al Fayed

Administrative Court between the Queen on the application of Mohamed Al Fayed versus Deputy Coroner of the Queen's household and Assistant Deputy Coroner for Surrey.

I, Mohamed Al Fayed, of 60 Park Lane, London, W1Y 3DH, state as follows: -

I am the Claimant in this application, an Interested Person in the Inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed and the father of Dodi Al Fayed, deceased. I make this statement in support of my application for permission to apply for judicial review of the decision of Lady Butler Sloss, Deputy Coroner of the Queen’s Household and Assistant Deputy Coroner for Surrey decisions to sit as the Deputy Coroner to the Queen’s Household and her decision to do so, alone and without a jury, following a preliminary hearing into the Inquests heard on 8 January 2007.

1.   I have been shown a copy of the Claim Form which is being filed in support of my application. I can confirm that the facts set out therein are, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true and accurate.

2.   I have always made clear my absolute conviction that there should be a single hearing before a jury of ordinary members of the public empanelled to consider all the evidence relating to both Inquests concurrently. I have pressed for an effective, thorough, fearless and, above all, independent process where a jury of ordinary people is allowed to hear all the material evidence. Without all stages of this process being subject to full public scrutiny, there can be no accountability, still less, any confidence in the outcome.

3.   Dr Burton originally excluded me from involvement in Princess Diana’s inquest. Dr Burton, who was then the Coroner of the Queen’s Household and Mr Burgess, the Coroner for Surrey, insisted that there should be separate inquests for Princess Diana and my son. Lady Butler-Sloss has at last agreed that I am entitled to participate in both inquests and that they should be held together.

4.   However, I have been advised that the Deputy Coroner’s appointment was made and approved by the Lord Steward of the Queen’s household, Sir James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn, that the Deputy Coroner made a declaration of his office to the Lord Steward, that she may live in premises arranged by the Lord Steward of the Queen’s Household and that even her salary is paid by the Palace. If any of this is correct it is a highly unusual, indeed extraordinary, method for a judicial appointment. I simply do not believe that this is an appropriate way for these Inquests to be heard. I have no confidence in such a court.  In any event, I do not believe that the public will be prepared to accept, nor should they accept, that an employee of the Queen, or at the very least a person whose very title indicates a close connection with the Royal Household should be allowed to hear and determine the outcome and findings of these Inquests.  

5.   I have full confidence in the abilities of a jury to be able to hear all the evidence impartially and reach a proper verdict on the circumstances surrounding their deaths. I am prepared to accept such a verdict, whatever decision they reach. Only a jury of ordinary citizens can deliver verdicts which will satisfy me and the public that there have been fair, transparent and most importantly, independent Inquests. The publication of the Report and findings of Lord Stevens, which was with the support and agreement of Lady Butler-Sloss, was, according to the Metropolitan Police, done for the purpose of “enhancing public debate” about events and issues in question. The only proper and indeed appropriate forum for this is at the Inquests where representatives of the public, sitting as a jury, can hear all the material evidence and reach decisions based upon that evidence.

6.   I am a grieving father who dearly misses his son. I cannot put into words my sense of loss. He and Princess Diana were two wonderful and loving people whose lives were cut brutally and tragically short. Were they in fact murdered? That is my certain belief, shared with millions of others, that this is what happened. I cannot accept that the truth will be revealed by someone who appears to be an employee of the Queen hearing and determining these inquests. If the British and French authorities are so confident in the evidence that they have amassed, I say that a jury of fair minded, honest, ordinary people should be given the task of hearing it for themselves and finally deciding the truth.

7.   Lady Butler Sloss has stated that the next hearing will take place on or around 5 March 2007. In view of the very short time until that hearing, I ask for that application to be expedited. 

I believe that the facts stated in this statement are true.

Signed  ……………………………………

Mohamed Al Fayed

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