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Lord Janner sex abuse 'trial of the facts’ dropped one month after Labour peer's death as 12 victims speak out | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A ‘trial of the facts’ into allegations of sexual abuse by Lord Janner has been formally dropped following the Labour peer’s death in December. | A ‘trial of the facts’ into allegations of sexual abuse by Lord Janner has been formally dropped following the Labour peer’s death in December. |
Although the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had declared Greville Janner unfit to stand a criminal trial last year due to his "deteriorating and irreversible" dementia, a formal examination of the evidence against him had been scheduled for April. | Although the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had declared Greville Janner unfit to stand a criminal trial last year due to his "deteriorating and irreversible" dementia, a formal examination of the evidence against him had been scheduled for April. |
Janner had faced 22 counts of sexual abuse dating back to the 1960s. His family has always maintained his innocence. | Janner had faced 22 counts of sexual abuse dating back to the 1960s. His family has always maintained his innocence. |
The trial of the facts would have seen a jury asked to decide whether the incidents had taken place, although there would not have been a guilty or not guilty verdict either way. | The trial of the facts would have seen a jury asked to decide whether the incidents had taken place, although there would not have been a guilty or not guilty verdict either way. |
On Friday morning, prosecutor Richard Whittam QC told trial judge Mr Justice Openshaw that the Crown would not go ahead with the planned trial of facts. | On Friday morning, prosecutor Richard Whittam QC told trial judge Mr Justice Openshaw that the Crown would not go ahead with the planned trial of facts. |
The CPS had initially hinted at the highly unusual move of the trial going ahead despite Janner's death but that has now been ruled out. | The CPS had initially hinted at the highly unusual move of the trial going ahead despite Janner's death but that has now been ruled out. |
The Goddard inquiry - the independent investigation examining historical child sex abuse throughout England and Wales - said it would resume its inquity into allegations against Janner now that the criminal case has ended. | |
It said, however, that the public hearings which would now take place in the case were not the same as a trial of the facts in a criminal court. | |
“They will be focused on different issues, subject to a different procedure and determined according to different standards of proof,” it said. | |
The inquiry is chaired by New Zealand judge Justice Lowell Goddard. | |
In a statement, the CPS said: “When a defendant dies during criminal proceedings, it is usual that the case no longer goes ahead following formal confirmation of the defendant's death at a hearing before the court. | In a statement, the CPS said: “When a defendant dies during criminal proceedings, it is usual that the case no longer goes ahead following formal confirmation of the defendant's death at a hearing before the court. |
"However, we are considering the procedural implications of this specific case." | "However, we are considering the procedural implications of this specific case." |
The news comes as 12 victims told the BBC that they were abused by Janner while residents at children's homes in Leicestershire throughout the 1970s and 1980s. | |
One man, identified only as Mark, claimed Janner - who was a member of the Magic Circle - would undress, wash and inappropriately touch him during visits to Moel Llys children's home, where he came to perform magic shows. | |
"It's mentally scarred me for life," he said. "I can never get rid of it. You feel ashamed and you feel dirty. Useless and worthless." | |
The BBC also claimed to have spoken to an ex-police officer who said he reported suspicions about Lord Janner a decade before police began a full inquiry. | |
The broadcaster said police have received information from 25 alleged victims, with lawyers representing at least 20 men and one woman - including the 12 residents of the children's home. | |
Allegations include a former resident of The Beeches children's home who claims he was raped by Janner, a claim by another Beeches resident that Janner and notorious care home manager and convicted child abuser Frank Beck seriously abused him; an allegation that Janner abused a boy in his primary school classroom; two men claiming Janner abused them during a visit to the House of Commons; and claims Janner groped boys during a trip to the Leicester Holiday Inn swimming pool. | |
Beck, a Liberal Democrat county councillor and influential social worker, was jailed for sexually abusing children in 1991. He died in prison three years later. | |
During his trial Beck and one of his victims sensationally claimed Janner was also a child abuser. In response Janner told the House of Commons that the allegations against him were "disgraceful, contemptible and totally untrue" and matter was dropped. |