UK prosecutors drop sex-abuse case against late politician

Published January 15, 2016

British prosecutors have formally dropped a sex-crimes prosecution against politician Greville Janner, who died before the start of court proceedings over decades-old allegations of abusing boys.

Prosecutor Richard Whittam told a judge Friday that the law "makes no provision for posthumous proceedings."

He said "there is no longer someone to convict or acquit."

Police and child-abuse victims expressed outrage last year when prosecutors announced they would not charge Janner, although there was enough evidence to do so, because he had advanced Alzheimer's.

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.

Janner, a former Labour Party lawmaker and peer, died Dec. 19 aged 87.

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