The Coroner's Inquests into the Deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Mr Dodi Al Fayed will commence on Tuesday, 2 October 2007 at the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ), and are expected to last for some months.
The Media will be allocated a small number of seats in the Courtroom as well as a large number in a purpose-built Court Annex in the East Quad of the RCJ. The Court Annex will accommodate both media and members of the public. The Court Annex is an extension of the Court and as such will be policed in exactly the same way.
Media seating in the Courtroom will be determined by the Court and permanent passes will be allocated in advance. Journalists in the Courtroom will be expected to remain seated throughout each session.
The Court Annex will be served by a live audio and visual link to the Courtroom and journalists accommodated there will see and hear exactly what is seen and heard in the Courtroom itself.
Permanent passes will be issued prior to the commencement of the Inquest. Those with editorial requirements and/or daytime deadlines are encouraged to make use of the Annex.
A small number of passes will be retained for daily issue to visitors and occasional attendees.
The usual court reporting rules, especially in relation to the prohibition of filming, photography and recording in court, will apply to both the Courtroom and the Court Annex. The Coroner is able to make Orders under Sections 4 and 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981.
Interested media organisations are requested to apply for accreditation to the Court Annex by COP Friday, 21 September 2007, indicating clearly:
Accreditation requests, clearly marked “Inquest Accreditation”, should be sent to:
Richard.bailey@scottbaker-inquests.gsi.gov.uk
For any queries, please contact Richard on 020 7073 1709 or 07714 756215
Further details on the Inquests can be found on this website.
Media should accredit for the Court Annex without regard for any previous access to the Pre-Inquest hearings or potential access to the main Courtroom.
All requests will be considered and a full allocation list will be circulated during the w/c 24 September, along with details of when and where to collect passes. All passes will be signed for by a representative bearing proof of identity (NUJ card, other press card, or a signed letter of authority on headed notepaper), at an accreditation session to be held on Monday, 1 October.
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