How can I find out what happened in court? (Trigger re indecent images)

[Sistery]

Changed my name as this is totally outing if any of the few people I’ve told read it. I’ve talked about this on here before though and been on here for years and years.

My brother is in court in Scotland today charged with crimes related to child sexual abuse images. Arrested last July, pleading guilty, don’t know what the specific charges are but get the hint it’s as bad as it can possibly be. The only family that know are supporting him and refuse to tell me anything about it.

Unless it hits the local press (not sure if it will due to Coronavirus) how can I find out what the outcome was today? I’m hundreds of miles away. When I asked a similar question about what turned out to be a pre hearing appearance a lot of people on here said I needed to mind my own business etc. I appreciate some people think that but I just need to know . This is my little brother whom I loved and thought was a good person and friend. I can never see him again but I need to know the details for my own understanding and closure. And - frankly - so I can defend my decision against the family members intent on minimising this who will try to manipulate him back into my life in the future. They don’t even know I know the hearing is today.

[puguin86]

www.scotcourts.gov.uk/current-business/court-rolls/sheriff-court

Is it on here

[Sistery]

If anyone has any inside way of finding out, particularly about Scottish courts, please PM me. It was a Sheriff court and I don’t know for sure if he’ll be sentenced today or deferred. Arrested last year by 6 police officers, early morning house search at same time.

[Sistery]

@puguin86 Yes his appearance is on there but that doesn’t tell you outcomes, charges, sentencing etc. Thank you though.

[Bluntness100]

Op have you called th court and asked? They will normally tell you.

In addition you can apply for the court transcripts. You can google how to.

[Sistery]

@Bluntness100 Nobody answers the phones due to Covid (weird but true) and when I googled it said you can’t get court transcripts for criminal trials for 100 years. Hope I’m wrong though.

[Sistery]

I’m aware I sound really cold but the truth is I’m heartbroken. I just need closure on this.

[Somethingorotherorother]

Will your parents seriously not tell you if you call and ask? What about a local friend?

[Somethingorotherorother]

Had a thought - this might be waaaay over the lie of what you want to do, but could you call the press office of a local paper and ask if they have a line on the court verdicts?

[Bluntness100]

Op I googled I don’t think that’s right. Can you email the court?

[Sistery]

Parents are divorced. One wants absolutely nothing to do with it and won’t discuss it. The other is supportive of him and angry with me for being ‘unforgiving’ and won’t discuss it with me at all for that reason now (and doesn’t know I know the case is today as they blanked me twice when I asked). I don’t know anyone local to the court unfortunately.

[yetea]

I've been in a similar situation and could find sentencing on the law pages website. I'm not sure if this covers all of the UK or if it is England specific. If you try thelawpages.com > sentences > search cases > enter defendents name you might be able to view it. I know I still can retrospectively for a court case in the past as I tested it just then.

[Sistery]

I emailed the court and this is the reply I got. How can it be possible for it all to be kept secret unless you are able to attend court?

Good afternoon,

Unfortunately, due to Data Protection legislation, we are unable to provide information about individuals or cases.

Apologies,

[yetea]

I think you can view sentencing a couple of times and then you need to make a free account so screenshot it once you have it up to avoid having to sign up.

[Sistery]

@Somethingorotherorother I would consider that. I’m following a few local papers online to see if they report anything.

[whattimeisitrightnow]

I don’t have any advice but I just wanted to say how sorry I am that you’re going through this. I think we forget that child abuse affects not only the victims, but the families of perpetrators too. I think I remember you posting about this before.
Totally, 100% understand the need for closure. I think the main thing is that you’ve decided not to have him in your life and that’s very brave of you: I’d advise you to stick with that choice for your own wellbeing, even when family members manipulate. I also hope you get some more information, for the sake of understanding better.

[yetea]

www.gov.uk/apply-transcript-court-tribunal-hearing

You can apply for a transcript at the link above. I don't know how successful requests are and how much they usually charge. I was interested in getting one but didn't bother in the end as I felt I had sufficient info and wasn't sure if the defendant would find out that I had requested it.

[Nicknacky]

It may not be reported in the local paper. Unfortunately it is a very common offence and unless there is something about it that is particularly newsworthy then they won’t necessarily cover it. But you never know.

[whattimeisitrightnow]

Another thing is that you may just have to wait a while for what you’re seeking: your family members have clammed up and are defending him, but that could change in the future. Not trying to give you false hope - some people are never able to get their heads round this so remain in denial forever - but it could be that once the trial etc. is over you might be able to extract more information from them.

[Letmegetthisrightasawoman]

OP, I can't help you with this, but I find it very strange you were previously told to MYOB. I would 100% want to know if I were in your situation. And your family siding with your brother and against you is wrong. You're in the right here, but no good deed goes unpunished, sadly. Wishing you strength xxx

[Sistery]

@yetea That’s such a useful website, thank you, but sadly it looks like it doesn’t cover Scotland. It being a different legal system is complicating things even more.

[whattimeisitrightnow]

Yes, I remember your previous thread now. There were a lot of people telling you it wasn’t your business. Ignore them - they just don’t understand what it’s like to go through this.

[Somethingorotherorother]

@Sistery I’m following a few local papers online to see if they report anything.

Even if they don't report on it, they might have a way of finding out, so calling could help.

[SinkGirl]

Sending hugs to you OP, I can only imagine how difficult this must be. I was abused by a family member and I could never have any contact with anyone who did something like this - I completely understand why you need to know. I hope you can get some answers.

[ConcentricCircles]

Someone who I used to know was found guilty yesterday of similar multiple charges OP. Even though I've moved away from the area I still get the local paper via a fb link.
Details of his charges first came through on that, then yesterday the guilty verdict was on yahoo social media news, and also in the daily papers. He will be sentenced in a few weeks.

I'm so sorry OP.

[Sistery]

Thank you - both for understanding why I need to know and for being supportive about my decision that I can't have a relationship with him. I have children. They've fortunately rarely been around him and never unsupervised so at least I don't have that added fear that many people must have in these situations. I never, ever, ever thought this would be my family.

@Nicknacky I agree that it is probably too 'common' a situation to be of interest. I'm hoping that fact it's a small town will make it more likely (though I do have moments of horror thinking about what the publicity I'm wishing for would mean for my brother if he stays in the community but is 'known' - it's so fucking painful not being able to just completely shut down my feelings for him).