Di inquest costs reach 2.8 mln dlrs

London, March 21 : The ongoing inquests into the deaths of Princess Diana and her lover Dodi Al Fayed have cost 2.8 million pounds so far, it has been announced.

The figures for the period up to the end of February showed that the costs of the five-month coroner's inquest, from July 1 2007 to February 29 this year, have reached 2,885,618 pounds.

In addition, the Metropolitan Police investigation into the car crash that killed the princess cost 3.6 million dollars.

The latest inquest costs include a 207,697-pound staffing bill plus 1,328,195 pounds spent on external legal services, reports the Daily Express.

Another 465,590 pounds has been paid out on IT services while video conferencing and special visits cost 478,844 pounds.

The figures, published on the coroner's website, show that consultancy fees totalled 96,562 pounds while running costs stand at 308,728 pounds.

Inquest officials said the figures were being published in "the interests of openness".

The figures do not include 187,464 pounds of costs incurred by the Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker and the previous Coroner, Lady Butler-Sloss, up to 30 June 2007.

Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker sent the jury away earlier this week until 31 March, when they will return to hear his summary of evidence.

Diana, her companion Dodi Al Fayed and driver Henri Paul, died in the crash in Paris on 31 August 1997.

ANI