Lord Janner to face prosecution amid calls for DPP to resign

The decision not to prosecute Lord Janner of Braunstone QC has been reversed amid calls for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, to resign.

The first hearing in the case against Lord Janner, who will be prosecuted for sex offences against children between the 1960s and 1980s will take place in August.

The decision further undermines the authority of Ms Saunders who said in April that even though there was sufficient evidence against Lord Janner, it was not in the public interest to charge him because of his dementia.

She was heavily criticised by victims’ rights groups as well as politicians for rejecting the advice of a senior barrister and expert on child abuse cases, Eleanor Laws QC, in coming to her decision.

Following an outcry from the victims who demanded their right of review an independent QC was appointed to look at the case again.

That unnamed lawyer argued it was both legally correct and in the public interest to pursue the peer.

The peer will face a “trial of facts” in which the jury will be asked to decide on the evidence whether or not the accused committed the acts he was charged with.

However, since the defendant cannot offer a defence, the jury cannot return a verdict of guilty and the court cannot pass sentence.

Instead, the court can make a hospital order, a supervision order, or an order discharging the defendant absolutely.

Liz Dux, a lawyer for some of Lord Janner’s alleged victims said: “My clients are delighted.

“They have waited a long time for their very serious allegations to be brought before a court. It may be long overdue but what matters to them now is being heard in a criminal court.”

Another of the victims’ lawyers, Peter Garsden, said the CPS had handled the case appalingly.

Mr Garsden added: “She overruled one QC and now she’s been overruled by a different QC.

“That’s two senior counsel who have told Alison Saunders to charge and she has been the only dissenting voice.

“It puts her in a very difficult position but whether she should resign or not — I’m not sure.

“My clients on the other hand are adamant she should be handing in her resignation.”