Prosecutors drop sex crimes against Janner
Victims of childhood sexual abuse in the UK have expressed their disappointment at prosecutors’ decision to drop a sex-crimes prosecution against a politician.
Greville Janner, who died last year before court proceedings could begin was a former Labour Party lawmaker and peer. He stood accused of 22 offenses in the 1960s, '70s and '80s, involving boys in children's homes in his central England constituency.
His family denied all the allegations.
Prosecutor Richard Whittam told a judge that before Janner died, prosecutors had applied to introduce more charges. “The law makes no provision for posthumous proceedings so the prosecution is now over,” he said.
Lawyer for six of Janner's alleged victims, Liz Dux said her clients were "devastated."
"They understand the reasons why but that doesn't make up for the real travesty — that many gave their statements decades ago and have been denied justice through a failure to prosecute earlier when Janner was alive and well," she said.
Now a London-based political analyst says “they just want to get rid of the scandal as soon as they can particularly because the main culprit is not alive anymore.”
Sukant Chandan also said such verdicts highlight this fact that the UK is lurching from one crisis to other but the officials are not aware that by issuing the verdicts they are just mistrusting public confidence.
Last year, police and child-abuse victims expressed outrage after prosecutors announced they would not charge Janner. This came despite this fact that there was enough evidence to do so because he had advanced Alzheimer's.
Media reports say the Crown Prosecution Service later reversed the decision and said a judge and jury would conduct a "trial of the facts," which considers evidence but does not issue a verdict or pass sentence. It had been scheduled to start in April, without Janner present.
'Blair to receive UK knighthood for war crimes in Iraq'
Journalist: Prosecute US, UK war criminals under Nuremberg principles
‘Support for Israel declining in UK, US’
VIDEO | From shadow to spotlight
Iran, Pakistan urge UNSC to hold Israel accountable for atrocities
VIDEO | Negotiations stalled
Israeli settlers – protected by military – intrude into Al-Aqsa Mosque
VIDEO | Smirking at lies
200 days of genocide: Palestinian resistance prevails over occupation
Ukraine launches drone strikes on Russia's energy sites
VIDEO | Anti-US sentiments grow in Iraq as US military presence unresolved
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
