A man who claims that Greville Janner abused him in the House of Commons when he was nine years old has called for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to be sacked after her decision not to prosecute the Peer looks likely to be overturned. He has accused the DPP, Alison Saunders, of incompetence.
In April Mrs Saunders ruled that Lord Janner should not be charged with 22 counts of historic child abuse, despite there being sufficient evidence to prosecute, on the grounds that he is not fit to stand trial due to dementia. She also ruled out a trial of facts, which is used when suspects are unable to enter pleas or use lawyers.
But pressure has been mounting since then, as it has emerged that Lord Janner has been able to attend the House of Lords and sign official letters, casting doubts on the status of his mental health. Others have argued that a trial of facts would offer his alleged victims a chance to make their voices heard.
An unnamed QC, thought to be the government’s trusted legal adviser David Perry, has now examined the evidence, and is expected to recommend that Mrs Saunders’ decision be overturned, marking the first time such a high profile Crown Prosecution decision has been reversed, according to the Express.
Paul Miller, 53, from Leicestershire, who has waived his right to anonymity said:
“I’m glad and relieved common sense has prevailed. It’s great news but Alison Saunders should be sacked. She’s been proved to be incompetent in not making the right decision in the first place. Her position is now untenable.”
Mr Miller has accused former Labour MP Lord Janner of groping him when he was on a school visit to the House of Commons at the age of nine.
Last week Labour MP Simon Danczuk used his parliamentary privilege to accuse Lord Janner of being a “serial child abuser” who “violated, raped and tortured” children in the House of Commons.
He added “It [the CPS] admits that Janner should face prosecution, but refuses to bring a case. I know the police are furious about this, and rightly so.”
In April, Mr Danczuk also called for Mrs Saunders to stand down, saying: “Mrs Saunders is now seen as a roadblock to justice and it’s hard to see how her position remains tenable.”
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