To think why not just fucking drag the bastard to court?

[DobbysLeftSock]

Just read this in bbc news. The judge had to go to the peison because the accused refused to leave his cell.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-48214055

What?! He is accused of multiple sex offences, kidnapping... how can he be allowed to just sit there and refuse to move?

A family member of mine was killed & the person that did it refused to go to court - they used video link instead.

They should have just heard the case without him. If he refuses to appear to defend himself that’s his choice. The jury will make of that what they will.

As others have said, usually the case is just dealt with in a defendant's absence if they refuse to.come (also worked in the court system).

Then they don't get the chance to say their bit /participate. Sometimes lawyers feel able to carry on representing and sometimes not (depends if they have written and signed instructions usually).

Why can’t they just have the courts case in his absence and add on a charge for not turning up to court. Straight to prison.

I wondered whether this was to do with the Chief Magistrate who is going to the prison to hold the hearing being a woman? Some sort of male control thing on his part?

A first hearing of an indictable-only offence isn't about determining guilt or innocence, so there'll be no evidence to hear, plea to be entered or decision to be made. It is an administrative act to bump the case straight out of the magistrates' jurisdiction and into the Crown Court's. There's currently no provision in law for sending defendants to the Crown Court in their absence under S.51, hence why they have to appear before a magistrate.

This one should be dragged by his hair while handcuffed behind his back and leg cuffs, after being tazered, hopefully with broken arms and legs by the time they get him there