What happens when you're a witness in court?

[IfYoureHappyAndYouKnowItHaveAGin]

I will be receiving a citation to give a witness statement in a case (I'm not actually involved).

The only time I've pressed charges against someone they have pled guilty, so I've never had to go to court.

A few things, I don't actually have childcare, the person I making a statement against lives very close by, and it's a charge involving abuse, I have a medical condition that will make hanging around a court for hours impossible, and I have dogs that can't be left alone for too long. The victim has withdrawn all support for pursuing this as well.

Does anyone know if I could do it by video link, or how to request this? Or any way I could get out if it all all?

I'm really nervous about the whole thing.

What country is this? Citations can be Scottish but pressing charges is American. Things can be very different between legal jurisdictions.

Scotland.

Pressing charges was just me saying that the few times I've had a crime committed against me the person has pled guilty, I didn't explain it properly.

Surely you need to talk to a legal professional who is organising the court case?

You must have had some contact with someone about giving a witness statement (dates, which court etc) so why not ask them?

When you receive the letter telling you that you need to attend, it usually has the details of a witness coordinator on it that you can contact and they will be able to answer your questions for you. It is sometimes possible to give evidence via video link, but you usually have to be in the courthouse to do so, or at least that's what I was told.