Domestic violence/abuse court cases

[YesICanHearYouClemFandango]

I was just talking to a friend about this, and I thought I would post it on MN in case it helps anybody. Because it definitely doesn't seem to be common knowledge and nobody told me about it when I was crapping myself about attending court to give evidence against my abusive ex-partner. And also I was quite upset when he pleaded not guilty, because he had already admitted to quite a few people that he had been violent towards me, and I was upset that he was now going to make me go through another ordeal.

Solicitors will often advise their clients to plead not guilty in this type of case, because if the case goes to trial and the main witness (the victim) doesn't attend court (because they're too damaged and scared after years of abuse, obviously), the case will usually be dismissed.

So they're advised to plead not guilty in the hope that the vulnerable and frightened victim will be too afraid to attend court, and then they get away with it.

Often, if the victim does manage to attend court on the trial date, the defendant will then change their plea to guilty anyway, because their solicitor then tells them that they will get a lesser sentence if they plead guilty at this point, rather than putting the victim through giving evidence and then being found guilty. This is what happened in my case.

Hope this helps somebody - knowledge is power etc.

[hiddenhome2]

Solicitors = scum sucking bottom feeders

[YesICanHearYouClemFandango]

I know. I mean they ARE only doing their job, and I know a few solicitors who are lovely, but I think what I've described is pretty unethical. I wouldn't be comfortable doing it myself.

[coffeeisnectar]

I've been through this too, only he insisted on pleading not guilty and I had to give evidence.

He was found guilty and his solicitor was such an arsehole the judge pulled him up on his line of questioning twice as well as reprimanding him for asking the same question three times despite me already answering twice. I think judges are well used to solicitors who have no defence except attacking the victim.

[YesICanHearYouClemFandango]

That's terrible coffee, I'm sorry he put through that. At least the judge could see what a wanker that solicitor was, I'm glad he pulled him up on it.

[YesICanHearYouClemFandango]

Put you through that, obvs