Ruling on notes of Di minder
Shropshire bodyguard Trevor Rees was named today as one of eight people whose notes, interviews and phone calls must be disclosed to legal teams in the inquest of Diana, Princess of Wales. Shropshire bodyguard Trevor Rees was named today as one of eight people whose notes, interviews and phone calls must be disclosed to legal teams in the inquest of Diana, Princess of Wales. At today's preliminary hearing, Mr Michael Mansfield QC, representing Harrods' owner Mohammed al Fayed, whose son Dodi also died in the crash, argued information had been "sieved" or "glossed" during the police inquiry. He said preparatory material including vital telephone conversations, interviews and messages were excluded from the final statement submitted. He told the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice that at least 1,021 messages had been ignored by the report and listed 68 witnesses on whom he wanted more information. Read the full story in tonight's Shropshire Star.
Shropshire bodyguard Trevor Rees was named today as one of eight people whose notes, interviews and phone calls must be disclosed to legal teams in the inquest of Diana, Princess of Wales.
At today's preliminary hearing, Mr Michael Mansfield QC, representing Harrods' owner Mohammed al Fayed, whose son Dodi also died in the crash, argued information had been "sieved" or "glossed" during the police inquiry.
He said preparatory material including vital telephone conversations, interviews and messages were excluded from the final statement submitted.
He told the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice that at least 1,021 messages had been ignored by the report and listed 68 witnesses on whom he wanted more information.
Lord Justice Scott Baker, presiding over the hearing, said there needed to be a "key player test" to determine what further information was needed.
He said Mr Rees, of Oswestry, the only survivor of the crash; former royal butler Paul Burrell and six other people were "genuinely important" witnesses who should be on a priority list expected to give evidence in the first six to eight weeks of the full inquest.
Today's hearing had earlier been told about alleged "inconsistencies" in the account of Mr Rees.
Lord Justice Scott Baker heard representatives of Mr Al Fayed and of the Ritz Hotel in Paris, had raised issues about Mr Rees, formerly Trevor Rees-Jones, and his account of the crash which killed Diana, Mr Fayed and chauffeur Henri Paul 10 years ago, after leaving the Ritz.
Talking about Mr Rees, Mr Ian Burnett QC, senior counsel to the inquest hearing, said there were concerns about alleged "inconsistencies in his account".
Screen
When the full inquest starts on October 2, an annexe will be erected in the grounds of the High Court to seat up to 300 members of the public and press.
They will be able to watch proceedings via a large screen, with 50 seats allocated within the courtroom itself.
Today's hearing comes just five days after Prince William and Prince Harry marked the 10th anniversary of their mother's death at an emotional memorial service at the Guards Chapel in London.
Diana, 36, and 42-year-old Dodi were killed when their Mercedes crashed in a Parisian underpass on August 31, 1997.