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| Lord Janner makes first court appearance over child sex abuse claims | Lord Janner makes first court appearance over child sex abuse claims |
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| Greville Janner has appeared in court for the first time to face a series of child sexual abuse allegations stretching back to the 1960s. | Greville Janner has appeared in court for the first time to face a series of child sexual abuse allegations stretching back to the 1960s. |
| The former Labour peer was driven into Westminster magistrates court in chaotic scenes on Friday afternoon, as his saloon car was besieged by television crews and photographers. | The former Labour peer was driven into Westminster magistrates court in chaotic scenes on Friday afternoon, as his saloon car was besieged by television crews and photographers. |
| Lord Janner, who has Alzheimer’s disease, appeared drawn and confused during his 59 second appearance before deputy chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot. . | |
| Escorted into court by his daughter and a minder, Janner laughed and said “Oooh, this is wonderful!” as he glanced at the packed public gallery. Wearing a bottle green cardigan, blue t-shirt and navy trousers, and using a walking stick, he was helped into his chair by his daughter. | |
| Janner then confirmed his name to the magistrate before being told he was released on unconditional bail. | |
| His daughter, who had sat with her hand on Janner’s shoulder throughout, escorted him out of the courtroom. She could be heard telling him: “Right dad, that’s it, we’re off, we’re going to go home, have an ice cream.” | |
| The list of 22 child abuse allegations against Janner was read out in his absence. | |
| The former Labour MP left the court building in the back of a car, which was besieged by photographers as it left the custody entrance of the court. | |
| Chaos as Janner's car is besieged by snappers outside court pic.twitter.com/bMp0w8H0ha | |
| The next court appearance is listed for 1 September at Southwark crown court, although it remains unclear whether Janner will have to attend in person. | |
| Janner’s barrister, Paul Ozin, had told Arbuthnot that Janner should be allowed to appear via a live videolink from his home due to the severity of his Alzheimer’s. | Janner’s barrister, Paul Ozin, had told Arbuthnot that Janner should be allowed to appear via a live videolink from his home due to the severity of his Alzheimer’s. |
| But the prosecutor Louise Oakley said that would be unlawful and he must attend court in person. The judge agreed and said arrangements should be made for Janner to appear at the court. | But the prosecutor Louise Oakley said that would be unlawful and he must attend court in person. The judge agreed and said arrangements should be made for Janner to appear at the court. |
| In an unusual outburst, Arbuthnot had warned Ozin during legal arguments that she would have Janner arrested if the matter was not resolved quickly. | In an unusual outburst, Arbuthnot had warned Ozin during legal arguments that she would have Janner arrested if the matter was not resolved quickly. |
| The magistrate said she was concerned that Ozin was engaging in a time-wasting exercise as he discussed the legal technicalities of suspects appearing in court via video link. “Even if I have to have him arrested I’m going to have it resolved today,” she said, cutting Ozin off in full flow. | The magistrate said she was concerned that Ozin was engaging in a time-wasting exercise as he discussed the legal technicalities of suspects appearing in court via video link. “Even if I have to have him arrested I’m going to have it resolved today,” she said, cutting Ozin off in full flow. |
| The hearing was Janner’s first appearance in court over allegations he molested nine boys between the early 1960s and late 1980s. He faces 22 charges in total. | The hearing was Janner’s first appearance in court over allegations he molested nine boys between the early 1960s and late 1980s. He faces 22 charges in total. |
| The peer’s family strongly denies claims he used his power to abuse vulnerable young boys at a local children’s home. | The peer’s family strongly denies claims he used his power to abuse vulnerable young boys at a local children’s home. |
| Janner faces a rare form of trial known as a trial of the facts. The defendant cannot put forward a defence, no verdict is reached and the court does not pass sentence. The court can only decide whether the offences were committed as charged. | Janner faces a rare form of trial known as a trial of the facts. The defendant cannot put forward a defence, no verdict is reached and the court does not pass sentence. The court can only decide whether the offences were committed as charged. |
| An independent review in April overturned the original ruling of the director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders, that Janner should not be charged over alleged child sex crimes because he had Alzheimer’s. |