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| Lord Janner ordered to attend court on child abuse charges despite dementia | Lord Janner ordered to attend court on child abuse charges despite dementia |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The former Labour peer Lord Janner must attend a preliminary hearing on his child abuse charges despite his severe dementia, a magistrate has ruled. | |
| Chief magistrate Howard Riddle said Janner was fit to appear, even if he could become confused. | Chief magistrate Howard Riddle said Janner was fit to appear, even if he could become confused. |
| Janner, 87, faces a trial of fact over 22 child sex offences allegedly committed in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. As Greville Janner, he was an MP for Leicester for 27 years. | Janner, 87, faces a trial of fact over 22 child sex offences allegedly committed in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. As Greville Janner, he was an MP for Leicester for 27 years. |
| His lawyer, Andrew Smith QC, told the first court hearing in the case at Westminster magistrates court on Friday: “Lord Janner is not in attendance. The reason for that submission on his part is that he is unfit to face the court.” | |
| Giving evidence for Janner, Dr James Warner, who has 20 years experience working with dementia, told the court: “There is no doubt in my mind that Lord Janner has dementia and that it is severe.” | Giving evidence for Janner, Dr James Warner, who has 20 years experience working with dementia, told the court: “There is no doubt in my mind that Lord Janner has dementia and that it is severe.” |
| He added that Janner’s condition was “beginning to really impact on his day to day life”, and that he was “highly likely to become distressed” in court. | He added that Janner’s condition was “beginning to really impact on his day to day life”, and that he was “highly likely to become distressed” in court. |
| He said the severity of dementia “would impair to a very significant extent his ability to communicate verbally” and that “he would not be able to understand that he was in court”. | He said the severity of dementia “would impair to a very significant extent his ability to communicate verbally” and that “he would not be able to understand that he was in court”. |
| Warner added that Janner was also showing the early signs of Parkinson’s. | Warner added that Janner was also showing the early signs of Parkinson’s. |
| The judge said: “This would appear on the face of it to be a section 51 hearing, he wouldn’t have to enter pleas, he wouldn’t have to say anything. I imagine he would be here for less than two minutes. It matters not whether he understands the proceedings.” | The judge said: “This would appear on the face of it to be a section 51 hearing, he wouldn’t have to enter pleas, he wouldn’t have to say anything. I imagine he would be here for less than two minutes. It matters not whether he understands the proceedings.” |
| He added: “There is only one issue: is he fit enough to come through that door for less than one minute?” | He added: “There is only one issue: is he fit enough to come through that door for less than one minute?” |
| In April, the director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders, decided not to charge Janner. | In April, the director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders, decided not to charge Janner. |
| However, the decision was reviewed after six of the complainants made a request under a scheme that gives victims the right to challenge Crown Prosecution Service decisions. | However, the decision was reviewed after six of the complainants made a request under a scheme that gives victims the right to challenge Crown Prosecution Service decisions. |
| The hearing was continuing on Friday. | The hearing was continuing on Friday. |