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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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  1. Juliet Bremner

Janner defence team accused of 'messing around'

The district judge presiding over a preliminary hearing for Lord Janner, who failed to attend court to face 22 charges of child abuse, has accused the peer's legal team of "messing around".

District Judge Emma Arbuthnot warned Paul Ozin QC, who is acting for the former Labour peer and MP, that time was running out - and vowed to "resolve" the issue of whether Janner will appear at court today "even if I have to have him arrested".

Lord Janner had been ordered to appear in court in person Credit: PA

Janner was ordered to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court in person for the hearing, but failed to attend.

District Judge Arbuthnot ruled the peer could not legally appear by live video link from his place of residence or a police station.

She dismissed yet more legal arguments from the defence team accusing them of "wasting time".

Addressing Mr Ozin, she said:

Even if I have to have him arrested I am going to get him to court, one way and another. I am warning you .... Stop messing around.

We have already had three hearings. I am a bit concerned that this is becoming a time wasting exercise

– District Judge Emma Arbuthnot

She added that the hearing must be done in a 'humane way'.

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Lord Janner attends court for first time over abuse claims

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