BY JAMES SIMONS
Lord Janner will be prosecuted over claims of historical sex abuse after a review overturned a CPS decision.
An independent QC has recommended the overruling of the CPS decision that exempted Lord Janer from prosecution on the grounds of dementia. Lord Janner had charges pressed against him for cases of historic child abuse, but the Crown prosecution Service in April decided against his prosecution- a decision that enraged and appalled the country. Janner, an MP for Leicester West, spanning a 27 year period, has always denied all charges.
The case has been listed for Westminster Magistrates court on August 7th.
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.
DECISION
The eventual decision to prosecute Janner draws a line over endless speculation that he was being protected by the the same system that ought to be protecting victims rather than seeming to protect their assatackers. This does not change the widespread view that influential figures conspired to protect Janner from prosecution in the same way that they have done with several other political figures similarly accused of historic sexual abuse. All it means is that this time the public pressure to see justice was too intense to allow this one to be swept under the carpet.
Director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders, admits herself that she recommended a lawyer outside the CPS to look at the case again. And no lawyer in the land who values his reputation would have wanted to give the stamp of approval to the decision of saunders. Saunders told the BBC:
“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.”
Claims of sexual abuse by prominent figures in politics have been rife in the last few years. The general consensus in many quarters is that influential people including the police have colluded with parties of those who would otherwise be in the dock, to shield them from forseeable damage to their reputation.
Crucially, the prosecution will seek to establish whether Janner did in fact commit the alleged crimes, but will not conclude a finding of guilt or innocence, unless a judge finds him fit to stand trial. The QC who recommended this case to be heard in court, as well as Saunders(the director of public prosecutions), both predict he will not be fit to stand trial. Al the case may achieve is in establishing if Lord Janner actually committed the crimes alleged against him.
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.”
