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Lord Janner sex abuse charges: Former Labour MP finally appears in court after legal battle Lord Janner sex abuse charges: Former Labour MP finally appears in court after legal battle
(about 4 hours later)
Lord Janner finally appeared in court in person for the first time over 22 historic child sex abuse charges. It took weeks of legal sparring to bring Lord Janner to court – but his first appearance lasted just 59 seconds.
The peer's attendance at Westminster Magistrates' Court came after a protracted fight by his defence lawyers to keep him out of court. The peer’s personal attendance at Westminster Magistrates, to answer 22 charges of historic child abuse, came after a protracted fight by his lawyers to keep him out of court. As he entered the courtroom, the 87-year-old, who is diagnosed with severe dementia, appeared to chuckle and said: “Oooh, this is wonderful.”
As he entered the courtroom, the 87-year-old, who is diagnosed with severe dementia. appeared to chuckle and said: “Oooh, this is wonderful.” Dressed in a bottle green cardigan, blue polo-shirt and navy trousers, and using a walking aid, he confirmed his name to Deputy District Judge Emma Arbuthnot. Asked if he was Lord Janner, he replied: “Yes.”
Dressed in a bottle green cardigan, blue polo-shirt and navy trousers and, using a walking stick, he confirmed his name to Deputy District Judge Emma Arbuthnot. The peer, who appeared frail but calm and physically well, was then told he could leave. The former Labour MP for Leicester – who was escorted by his elder daughter Marion and a carer – spent less than a minute in court in total. Lord Janner, whose wife died of cancer, has two daughters and a son.
The peer, who was in court for less than a minute was then told he could leave. The former Labour MP for Leicester was escorted into the courtroom by a nursing assistant and his daughter Marion. Lord Janner, whose wife died of cancer, has two daughters and a son. His daughter sat beside him when he replied to the judge’s question and then escorted him out of the building, saying: “We’re going to go home and have an ice cream.”
His daughter sat beside him when he replied to questions and then escorted him out of the building saying: “We're going to go home and have an ice cream.” The peer left after confirming his name to the judge (PA) Lord Janner arrived and left court in a silver Toyota through a secure rear entrance. As he arrived he wore a National Trust baseball cap. He was not required to sit in the dock and arrived and left by a door used by court participants who are judged to be vulnerable. His route avoided sections of the building used by the public.
The peer left after confirming his name to the judge (PA) Lord Janner arrived and left court in a silver Toyota car through a secure rear exit at the court. He was not required to sit in the dock and arrived and left by a door used by court participants who are judged to be vulnerable which avoids sections of the building used by the public. He was released on unconditional bail, with the next hearing to be held at Southwark Crown Court next month. After his departure his home address and details of the 22 charges of indecent assault and buggery against boys under the age of 16 were read out in court. The assaults are alleged to have taken place at times between 1963 and 1988.
He was released on unconditional bail with the next hearing to be held at Southwark Crown Court on September 1. Lord Janner was not required to enter a plea to any of the charges. His family maintain he is “entirely innocent”. A Crown Court judge will decide later if he is fit to enter pleas and stand trial, although it is medically uncontested that he is suffering from severe dementia.
After he departed the Peer’s home address and details of the 22 charges of indecent assault and buggery against boys under the age of 16 were read out in court. The court may conduct a “trial of the facts”, where a jury would hear evidence from alleged victims and decide if Lord Janner committed the physical acts of abuse, although there would be no finding of guilt or innocence, or the possibility of a conviction.
Janner was forced to attend the hearing after two senior judges ruled that an appearance by the former Labour peer and MP must take place because of “the obvious and strong public interest in ensuring those summoned to court attend when required”. The legal case comes after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was required to take action after first insisting he would not be charged because of his illness.
Earlier the judge had said she would immediately “abort” the hearing if it became too much for him and would only continue in his absence. Lord Janner was forced to physically attend after two senior High Court judges ruled that an appearance was essential because of “the obvious and strong public interest in ensuring those summoned to court attend when required”.
Lord Janner's lawyer Paul Ozin argued at the start of the hearing that his client should be allowed to appear via video link between the court and Lord Janner’s north London home. Earlier Judge Arbuthnot said she would immediately “abort” the hearing if it became too much for him.
In response, the judge said that if the hearing became too much for Janner, she would "immediately abort" and continue in his absence. Paul Ozin, for Lord Janner, previously argued that his client should be allowed to appear via video link from his north London home.
His legal team had insisted he was too ill to attend in person because of his advanced dementia. Louise Oakley, for the CPS, said a video link was not an option as he was not in custody and had not been charged. The law required him to appear in person at a Magistrates’ Court before the case could be sent to the Crown Court.
As the defence tried to propose alternative ways of Janner appearing, the judge expressed impatience with what she described as “delaying tactics” warning Lord Janner could face arrest. His legal team had insisted he was too ill to attend.
Judge Arbuthnot declared: “Even if I have to have him arrested I am going to resolve this matter today. I'm warning you that as time progresses I'm going to turn to the prosecution and say 'let's get a warrant to have him arrested'. Let's not waste time.” As the defence tried to propose alternative ways for Lord Janner to appear, the judge expressed impatience with what she described as “delaying tactics”, warning that Lord Janner faced arrest.
She added that Janner's appearance "must be done in a humane way. I feel very strongly of that”. “Even if I have to have him arrested I am going to resolve this matter today. I’m warning you that as time progresses I’m going to turn to the prosecution and say, ‘Let’s get a warrant to have him arrested. Let’s not waste time’,” she said.
Louise Oakley, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said a video link could not be offered to Lord Janner as he was not in custody and had not been charged. The law required him to appear in person in magistrates court before it was sent to the Crown Court. She added that Lord Janner’s appearance “must be done in a humane way. I feel very strongly of that”.
The peer's family strongly deny the charges on his behalf
On Thursday Janner's lawyers lost a High Court bid to prevent him having to attend.