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Lord Janner expected in court on child sex abuse charges | Lord Janner expected in court on child sex abuse charges |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Lord Janner is expected to appear in court to face child sex abuse charges after his lawyers lost a High Court bid to prevent him having to attend. | Lord Janner is expected to appear in court to face child sex abuse charges after his lawyers lost a High Court bid to prevent him having to attend. |
The 87-year-old, who has dementia, is due at Westminster Magistrates' Court later in relation to 22 charges spanning the 1960s to the 1980s. | |
Lord Janner's lawyers had argued it was "inhumane" as he is ill but judges ruled it was in the public interest. | |
The peer has denied wrongdoing and his family says he "is entirely innocent". | |
If he does not attend the brief hearing, he could be arrested - or prosecutors could ask the High Court for a voluntary bill of indictment to allow the case to proceed in his absence. | |
Lord Janner's lawyers had argued he had "virtually no language left at all" and was likely to have a "catastrophic reaction" if he attended court. | Lord Janner's lawyers had argued he had "virtually no language left at all" and was likely to have a "catastrophic reaction" if he attended court. |
But they said they were not planning to appeal the ruling. | But they said they were not planning to appeal the ruling. |
The judges said the public interest outweighed any personal distress he might experience, and any distress would be "of short duration". | The judges said the public interest outweighed any personal distress he might experience, and any distress would be "of short duration". |
His appearance is expected to last less than a minute and he is allowed to be accompanied by a member of his family and a nurse. | His appearance is expected to last less than a minute and he is allowed to be accompanied by a member of his family and a nurse. |
Lord Janner's family have strongly denied claims he used his power as an MP to abuse young boys over three decades. | Lord Janner's family have strongly denied claims he used his power as an MP to abuse young boys over three decades. |
Who is Lord Janner? | Who is Lord Janner? |
Earlier this year, Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders decided not to bring charges against Lord Janner because of his ill health - but this decision was overturned after an appeal by the alleged victims. | Earlier this year, Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders decided not to bring charges against Lord Janner because of his ill health - but this decision was overturned after an appeal by the alleged victims. |
If a crown court judge decides the former Labour MP for Leicester is fit to plead, a full trial may take place. | If a crown court judge decides the former Labour MP for Leicester is fit to plead, a full trial may take place. |
If not, there will be a trial of the facts, where a jury will decide only if he committed the physical acts of abuse, with no finding of guilt and no conviction. | If not, there will be a trial of the facts, where a jury will decide only if he committed the physical acts of abuse, with no finding of guilt and no conviction. |
Greville Janner was made Lord Janner of Braunstone in 1997. He remains a life peer, but has been on leave of absence since 2014. He was suspended from the Labour Party in April. | Greville Janner was made Lord Janner of Braunstone in 1997. He remains a life peer, but has been on leave of absence since 2014. He was suspended from the Labour Party in April. |