The inquest into the death of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed began Tuesday at London's High Court.

Princess Diana

A jury of six women and five men has been selected by ballot from a shortlist of 25 for the hearing, which could last six months. The 11 jurors' names were read out by a court official.

Throughout the case, jurors will be escorted to and from court by police.

Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker told the jurors that their role was to decide four questions: who died, when they died, where they died and how they died.

Justice Baker said the fourth question - effectively the verdict - was wider. "Because of the unique nature of this case we shall explore that question a great deal more widely than would ordinarily be the case."

"We shall investigate matters some of which may very well turn out to be irrelevant to the cause of the deaths because one of the purposes of an inquest is to allay speculation and rumour," he said.

In the second week of the hearing, the jury will be flown to Paris to retrace Diana's final journey.

The princess and Al Fayed died in a car crash in the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris, on Aug. 31, 1997.

Arriving at the High Court, Dodi's father, Mohamed Al Fayed, said he wanted justice for his dead son. "I'm hoping for justice, I'm a father who lost his son. I have been fighting for 10 years, at last I want to have justice."

Mohamed Al Fayed held that he remained convinced that the princess and his son were "murdered."

Members of the Royal Family were called to give evidence at the hearing.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet