This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/28/lord-janner-face-trial-dpp-ruling-overturned-sexual-abuse-allegations

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Lord Janner to face trial after DPP ruling overturned Lord Janner to face justice after DPP ruling overturned
(about 1 hour later)
Greville Janner is to face justice after an independent QC overturned the decision of the director of public prosecutions not to charge him with child sexual abuse, the Crown Prosecution Service will announce on Monday. Lord Janner is to face justice in a trial of the facts after an independent QC overturned the decision of the director of public prosecutions not to charge him with child sexual abuse, the Crown Prosecution Service will announce on Monday.
The decision will increase pressure on Alison Saunders, the DPP, who has faced calls to resign over her failure to charge Janner with a string of sexual abuse charges dating back to the 1960s.The decision will increase pressure on Alison Saunders, the DPP, who has faced calls to resign over her failure to charge Janner with a string of sexual abuse charges dating back to the 1960s.
It is understood the review will recommend he faces a trial of the facts at which he is unlikely to be present.It is understood the review will recommend he faces a trial of the facts at which he is unlikely to be present.
Saunders said in April it was not in the public interest to charge Janner because he suffers from dementia, but she was challenged by alleged victims in a formal process known as the right to review. It is believed to be one of the first times that victims have overturned a DPP’s decision. Saunders said in April it was not in the public interest to charge Janner, because he suffers from dementia, but she was challenged by alleged victims in a formal process known as the right to review. It is believed to be one of the first times that alleged victims have overturned a DPP’s decision.
Liz Dux, a lawyer from Slater and Gordon representing many of the alleged victims, said: “My clients are delighted by this decision. It is a total vindication of why they challenged the original decision of the DPP. All they have ever wanted was to give their evidence in a court and have findings of fact established. They have been denied this right for many many years but now their faith in British justice is restored and they look forward to being listened to after so long.”Liz Dux, a lawyer from Slater and Gordon representing many of the alleged victims, said: “My clients are delighted by this decision. It is a total vindication of why they challenged the original decision of the DPP. All they have ever wanted was to give their evidence in a court and have findings of fact established. They have been denied this right for many many years but now their faith in British justice is restored and they look forward to being listened to after so long.”
The QC who carried out the review has found that the former Labour MP should be charged and face a trial of the fact in court. It will be the first time that allegations against Janner – which have been investigated in the past in three failed police investigations – will be aired in public in a courtroom.The QC who carried out the review has found that the former Labour MP should be charged and face a trial of the fact in court. It will be the first time that allegations against Janner – which have been investigated in the past in three failed police investigations – will be aired in public in a courtroom.
Saunders said in April there was enough evidence to charge Janner with 22 charges of child sex abuse between 1969 and 1988, but she said his dementia meant it was not in the public interest to charge him as he would not understand the proceedings or be able to take part in them.Saunders said in April there was enough evidence to charge Janner with 22 charges of child sex abuse between 1969 and 1988, but she said his dementia meant it was not in the public interest to charge him as he would not understand the proceedings or be able to take part in them.
She overruled a specialist QC, Eleanor Laws, an expert in child abuse law, who recommended that the peer be charged. The DPP’s decision led to an extraordinary rift with Leicestershire police who spent two years investigating Janner in the latest inquiry and said Saunder’s failure to charge him was “peverse”. The force threatened legal action to overturn the DPP’s decision. She overruled a specialist QC, Eleanor Laws, an expert in child abuse law, who recommended that the peer be charged. The DPP’s decision led to an extraordinary rift with Leicestershire police, who spent two years investigating Janner in the latest inquiry and said Saunders’ failure to charge him was “peverse”. The force threatened legal action to overturn the DPP’s decision.
The family of the 86-year-old peer have said he is innocent of any of the allegations.The family of the 86-year-old peer have said he is innocent of any of the allegations.