Going to court... any advice


Found out today I'm being called as a witness. I gave a really basic statement to police a while back and didn't expect it to reappear to be honest. So a bit of a surprise to find I'm being dragged into it. Can't really see why I'm involved, they must have had better witnesses than me!

Anyone done it? Any tips? Do the legal types give you any advice on what to do before you go in. Do you get to see the proceedings beforehand? Will I get to see the statement I gave?

I've never even seen inside a
courtroom except on TV.
Get some witness training
 
Found out today I'm being called as a witness. I gave a really basic statement to police a while back and didn't expect it to reappear to be honest. So a bit of a surprise to find I'm being dragged into it. Can't really see why I'm involved, they must have had better witnesses than me!

Anyone done it? Any tips? Do the legal types give you any advice on what to do before you go in. Do you get to see the proceedings beforehand? Will I get to see the statement I gave?

I've never even seen inside a
courtroom except on TV.

I was in the same situation as you - gave a really basic statement which I didn't think would be of much value since I didn't know the names of any of the accused and couldn't really give any detailed descriptions, so I was also surprised to be summoned some 6 months after giving the statement.

In the weeks leading up I got a few phonecalls to try and let me know what day I would be needed, it changed a couple of times but only by a few weeks here and there. Once the day was decided, I got told a time to arrive there and which entrance to use. They sent me a formal posted version of the summons that I could show work to get the day off as paid leave, but I think I had to chase this for it to actually be sent.

Since I was a witness for the prosecution, the lead prosecuting lawyer came up to the witness room to have a chat and let me know what to expect. Once he left, there was just a couple of coppers who had been involved in the case in the room with me and a couple of other witnesses. They gave me a copy of my statement again to read through and reminded us that we couldn't discuss the case while we were all there waiting.

We got taken down to the courtroom one at a time and directed straight to the podium thing with the little mic on it. It was a bit intimidating being in that room full of people but I've been more nervous at job interviews to be honest. They ask you to confirm your full name and make you do some "repeat after me" thing to give an oath that you'll speak truthfully, but not like the "so help me god" crap they do in the US. The prosecutor lawyer who we had seen earlier just asked me to talk through what had happened bit-by-bit, so it was essentially just recounting what I had already said in my statement. There was also a folder in front of me with different things e.g. photos of the area where the incident occurred. So for some of the questions he asked me to open the relevant section of the folder. The defence lawyers then had a chance to ask questions once he was done but they only had one. All in all I'd say I was in the room about 10mins max.

Depending on the profile of the case, don't be surprised to see your quotes mentioned in media outlets if it's being covered. Most of them do it anonymously but one local newspaper decided to publish everyone's names... At the end of the day, just remember you have nothing to worry about, you're not the one who is on trial, all you can do is answer as honestly and best as you can.
 
Pace up and down in front of the jury saying “ladies and gentlemen of the jury” in a southern US accent, occasionally pausing to lean on the rail in front of them with one hand while the others on your back.


Seriously though even if you actually turn up the odds of it going ahead will be slim. There was a domestic in the hotel room next to ours when we were on holiday up Oban and I gave a statement to the coppers when they turned up. Kept getting letters confirming court dates etc then it got cancelled with a few week to go.
 
I got called up many years ago by the prosecution.
Discovered I was sitting next to the accused mates as I waited to give evidence.
Was told to keep everything simple and don’t go into stories, stick to the facts.
Got into the dock and they read out my home address , so because of the nature of the crime I expected a visit from his mates, but thankfully it didn’t happen.
He got sent down for several years.
I doubt I’d do it again to be honest.
You might find it gets canned at the last minute if the accused decides to change his or her plea.
 
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Found out today I'm being called as a witness. I gave a really basic statement to police a while back and didn't expect it to reappear to be honest. So a bit of a surprise to find I'm being dragged into it. Can't really see why I'm involved, they must have had better witnesses than me!

Anyone done it? Any tips? Do the legal types give you any advice on what to do before you go in. Do you get to see the proceedings beforehand? Will I get to see the statement I gave?

I've never even seen inside a
courtroom except on TV.
Tell them you hear voices
 
In the weeks leading up I got a few phonecalls to try and let me know what day I would be needed, it changed a couple of times but only by a few weeks here and there. Once the day was decided, I got told a time to arrive there and which entrance to use. They sent me a formal posted version of the summons that I could show work to get the day off as paid leave, but I think I had to chase this for it to actually be sent.

Sounds like a honey trap
 
If you don’t want to do it then don’t do it. They can’t force you.
I said that to the coppers, and they brought a letter (can't remember what was called? subpoena/summons maybe?) with some coins in the envelope to cover the cost of the bus for the 10minute walk!
Said they'd come and arrest me if I didn't turn up.

It was criminal damage that I'd witnessed whilst at work, and wanted fuck all to do with the court case.

Court case that was a shambles
1 - The lad turned up an hour later, in a track suit eating a greggs pasty (yes, this was in Peterlee. I mentioned the bus fair already, right?)
2 - The solicitor for the lad actually asked the prosecution solicitor "what defence can I even us here, its obvious he did it"
3 - The whole thing was on CCTV so they didn't need me anyway
4 - The judge got all shouty at me for saying I couldn't exactly remember as it was over six months ago. Spoke to me like I was the criminal on trial. That really pissed me off.

Went in when called. Left immediately after. No idea what the outcome was, don't care.
Shit day, total waste of my own time.
 
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