Can I do this? I will obviously ring the police station tomorrow, but, to cut a long story short, my SIL was horrifically scammed by a con artist. He is representing himself in court and has called me as a witness, saying that I observed several inappropriate behaviours by SIL to him and that I signed a document (no-one has so far been able to tell me what this document is).
I met this man once, for 5 minutes only outside SIL's flat. That's it. I have made a statement to the police to this effect and they said the judge probably wouldn't require me to attend court based on my statement.
However, I received a letter yesterday saying I would be called as a witness. Now, I would like to support SIL in any case, and would - in other circs - make myself available to attend and support her. BUT
My sis and family, who lives in NZ and whom I haven't seen for 3 years, is coming over at the time of the court case. I have informed the school I'm taking my children out for a week (they haven't authorised it officially but HT is on board) and we are all going to stay with other sis, 200 miles away for 2 weeks, with my parents. My father isn't in the best of health, and in the back of all our minds is the thought that this might be our last ever holiday together. We can't afford to go over to NZ and they are unlikely to be able to come back for at least another 3 years. So it's a big deal for us.
The court case comes bang slap in the middle of the 2 weeks. Without wanting to drip feed, the holiday can't be moved back because I am tagging onto existing school holiday, and can't be moved forward because she has to go back to NZ.
The letter says the case will be on for 5 days, but I won't be needed for all 5 days, however, I need to make myself available for them all.
What can I do? As I said, I've already made a statement with all the information I have. I've refuted his statement and there is no evidence, unless he's forged my signature (unlikely as he's never seen it) that I've signed anything. The case is being brought by the CPS on behalf of my SIL, because he conned and stole from her. Whether I've signed a document or not cannot possibly be relevant to the case. The police officer who took my statement seemed to think it was a pretty clear cut case against him, there is CCTV of him using the card he stole.
I will be in the UK, so I was thinking that I could offer to go to the local court and they could maybe do a video link. I don't even know that is possible, especially for such a minor witness as myself.
Help, any advice?
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to say I can't be a witness?
23 replies
Narnia72 · 28/02/2016 16:00
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