Lord Janner, the 87-year-old former Labour peer, has been ordered to appear in person at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a hearing on child sex abuse charges. The allegations, which he denies, relate to incidents said to have occurred in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
On Friday, Lord Janner did not attend court, with his lawyers arguing he was 'unfit' due to dementia. However, Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle ruled that while Lord Janner did not have to participate in the proceedings, he was legally required to be present. The magistrate acknowledged that the peer might become distressed but noted the appearance would likely be brief, stating, 'He is free to go if he becomes distressed.'
Andrew Smith QC, representing Lord Janner, called two medical witnesses who testified that forcing the former MP to attend court could cause 'catastrophic distress.' Despite this, the court insisted on his presence for the next hearing on Friday, with a venue possibly chosen closer to his home.
The case is expected to be sent to a crown court, which will determine whether Lord Janner is fit to stand trial. If deemed unfit, a 'trial of the facts' may occur, where a jury decides only if he committed the physical acts, without a finding of guilt or conviction. The Director of Public Prosecutions had initially decided not to bring charges due to his health, but this was overturned on appeal by alleged victims.
