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Lord Janner fails to appear in court over child sex abuse allegations Judge threatens to arrest Lord Janner after non-appearance in court
(35 minutes later)
Lawyers for Greville Janner argued on Friday for the former Labour peer to be allowed appear before court via videolink after he failed to attend a hearing in central London. A judge has threatened to have the former Labour peer Greville Janner arrested later on Friday if the issue over his court appearance on child sex abuse charges is not resolved.
Janner, 87, had been expected to attend Westminster magistrates court for his first appearance over allegations that he sexually abused nine boys over three decades after his legal team lost a high court bid on Thursday to keep him out of court. The district judge Emma Arbuthnot expressed her frustration with Lord Janner’s lawyers after the 87-year-old, who has advanced dementia, failed to attend a hearing on Friday morning.
His barrister, Paul Ozin, was in court but Janner did not appear. Ozin said his preferred option was for Janner to appear via videolink from his home, but prosecutor Louise Oakley said that would not be lawful. Janner had been expected to be at Westminster magistrates court for his first appearance over allegations that he sexually abused nine boys over three decades. His legal team lost a high court bid on Thursday to keep him out of court.
His barrister, Paul Ozin, argued that Janner could appear via videolink from his home, but the prosecutor, Louise Oakley, said that would not be lawful.
Janner not here. His barrister tells court he will "facilitate Lord Janner's appearance before this court today in one form or another".Janner not here. His barrister tells court he will "facilitate Lord Janner's appearance before this court today in one form or another".
The plan is for Janner to appear via a live link to his home. Debate over whether that is lawful.The plan is for Janner to appear via a live link to his home. Debate over whether that is lawful.
The hearing adjourned to make a decision on allowing a videolink or for Janner to attend a different court. District judge Emma Arbuthnot said she would “resolve” the issue of whether Lord Janner will appear at court on Friday “even if I have to have him arrested”. The hearing was adjourned for a decision to be made on whether the videolink would be allowed or he would attend a different court.
Arbuthnot said she was concerned that Ozin was engaging in a “time-wasting exercise” as he discussed the technicalities of the law around appearing in court via videolink.
“Even if I have to have him arrested I’m going to have it resolved today,” the judge said. “I’m warning you that as time progresses I’m going to turn to the prosecution and say, ‘What’s your view?’. I’m going to get an [arrest] warrant.”
Defendants usually only appear in court via videolink if they are in custody.Defendants usually only appear in court via videolink if they are in custody.
Janner’s lawyers had told the high court on Thursday that compelling him to attend would be a breach of his human rights and have a “catastrophic impact” on his health, due to his severe Alzheimer’s. Janner’s lawyers told the high court on Thursday that compelling him to attend would be a breach of his human rights and have a “catastrophic impact” on his health.
But the legal challenge was summarily dismissed by Lady Justice Rafferty and Mr Justice Irwin, who said there was a strong public interest in suspects attending court.But the legal challenge was summarily dismissed by Lady Justice Rafferty and Mr Justice Irwin, who said there was a strong public interest in suspects attending court.