Beveridge inquest underway in Australia.

The official inquiry into the death of race marshal Graham Beveridge at this year's Australian Grand Prix has begun with emotional scenes in a Melbourne courthouse.

Beveridge was killed instantly when he was struck by a wheel from Jacques Villeneuve's BAR which passed through a gap in the safety fence at the city's Albert Park circuit, following an on-track collision with Ralf Schumacher's Williams. Although the accident was freak insofar as the gap - necessary for marshals and drivers to pass between the safety area and the circuit - was barely big enough to admit the wheel, the force of the impact was estimated at almost 150mph.

Footage of the incident was shown to the court, and statements were read from both drivers involved in the accident, as well as from chief steward Garth Wigston, race director Tim Schenken and a representative of Melbourne's major collision investigation unit. Although no-one was prepared to apportion blame for the tragedy, Schenken explained that the circuit had already put into action plans to improve safety for the 2002 event, including raising the height of the barriers and modifying the debris fences to prevent a possible repeat.

The hearing continues throughout the week, with further submissions expected to raise the question of whether safety precautions at the circuit were appropriate for Formula One. It is also likely that the sport itself could be investigated, particularly as the wheel which killed Beveridge was supposed to have been tethered to Villeneuve's car by systems imposed - and revised - following the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994.

The 2002 Australian Grand Prix remains provisional pending the outcome of the inquiry.