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Lord Janner attends court for first time over abuse claims

Lord Janner has appeared at court for the first time to face 22 counts of historical child abuse.

The 87-year-old had been ordered to attend the hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in person this morning, but did not arrive as his legal team launched a last-minute bid to have him appear via video link.

Accusing the defence of "messing around", the district judge dismissed the application and ruled he must make a personal appearance.

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Lord Janner's lawyers lose legal bid to prevent court appearance

Lawyers acting for Lord Janner have lost a High Court bid to prevent him having to attend court tomorrow to face child abuse charges.

High Court rules Lord Janner must appear in court despite his illness Credit: PA

Lawyers had wanted the hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court to be halted, to give the former Labour peer and MP chance to pursue a judicial review of the decision forcing him to attend.

They argued that the 87-year-old is suffering from dementia, and forcing him to be in court in person was a violation of his human rights.

After today's High Court ruling, he must now attend the preliminary hearing to face 22 charges ranging from the 1960s to the 1980s.

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Lord Janner attends court for first time over abuse claims

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