Diana coroner hits back at ‘circus’ claim

With media commentators, politicians and security experts saying the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Fayed, has become a circus that should be stopped, the coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker (pictured), has responded with a severe warning. He told the court that the inquest would continue to be heard by a jury "on evidence they hear in this court and nothing else".

He said: "Comments made outside this court, often about a limited aspect of the evidence, may tender the maker or publisher liable to contempt of court. I again urge great care that nothing is said, written or published that may influence the jury."

The threat came as members of the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), which oversees the work of the intelligence and security agencies, raised concerns that 10 serving members of MI6 have been summoned to give evidence at the request of lawyers acting for Mohamed Fayed, Dodi's father.

Lord Foulkes, a member of the ISC, called on the coroner to consider ending the proceedings. "I think it's a total waste of time and money. The extraordinary performance of Fayed has turned the whole thing into a circus."

Dari Taylor, a Labour MP who also sits on the ISC, said: "We understand Fayed's grief. But the fact is that he has got to accept at some stage that there was nobody involved in his son's and Princess Diana's death. It was an accident. There is no evidence that suggests anything other than that."

Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove told the inquest this week that Fayed's claims of a conspiracy to "slaughter" the princess, involving the security services and the Duke of Edinburgh, were "utterly ridiculous".

Denis MacShane, a former foreign officer minister, described the inquest, which has cost around £2.5m to date, as "a contemptible abuse of British law and a scandalous waste of public money".