Lord Janner faces historical sex abuse prosecution
29 June 2015
From the section UK
Lord Janner’s family has said he is “entirely innocent”
Lord Janner will be prosecuted over claims of historical sex abuse after a review overturned a CPS decision.
The Crown Prosecution Service announced in April that the 86-year-old would not be charged because of his severe form of dementia.
An independent QC has now recommended the decision be overruled.
Lord Janner, MP for Leicester West for 27 years, denies any wrongdoing and his family says the peer “is entirely innocent”.
The case has been listed for Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 7 August.
It was reviewed under the CPS Victims’ Right to Review Scheme, which allows people to have their case looked at again no matter who in the CPS took the decision not to prosecute.
David Perry QC concluded that it was in the public interest to bring proceedings before a criminal court.
‘Borderline case’
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: “I have always said that in my view this was an extremely difficult and borderline case because of the strong arguments on both sides. I have also always emphasised my concern for the complainants in this case.
“I understood their need to be heard, which is why I contacted Justice Goddard to ensure that they could give evidence as part of the public inquiry. However, the review has concluded that this forum, albeit a public one, cannot substitute for the adjudication of the courts.
“I accept the outcome of the review and will now be bringing this prosecution to allow for that adjudication to happen.”
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Source:: BBC UK
