Criminal court for DV

[Queenie6655]

Hello all

I have a court case due to DV caused by my ex
The witness protection team previously said that I could attend remotely
The DC from the Met has recently said it seems likely I need to attend

Just wondering if anyone has tips to prepare for this?

I plan on reading out my victim personal statement

But the thing Is I want to only have to attend for a short time and not hang around in case I see him
I have requested a screen
Some of my family think i should just face him but i can't

Any advice would be very much appreciated

...

Didn't want to not leave a message but didn't quite make this situation.
I was prepped to go to court, requested screen, separate waiting area. At the plea hearing he changed his plea to guilty, so in the end it was all over with and I didn't have to attend.
I have been through family court remotely recently. It was much easier though I wish it had been face to face as I think you can gauge people more with their body language.

Anyway, this is more of a hand hole and a bump to the top again.

Do you have an IDVA that can go with you?

You would probably be better off reporting this and asking for it to be moved to Legal.

I went to court when my ex was charged and pleaded guilty for DV as it was last summer locally all cases were help in the crown court due to covid. I took friends, sat in a waiting area but bumped into him in a corridor and had to get an usher to escort me out. I had my victim impact statement read by CPS because they said his defence could question me if I read it myself. It was okay but very emotional.

Ah my gosh so useful

Ok so maybe ask cps to read my statement out?

How could they question me on that?
I'm fully prepared for them to shred me to bits

I guess it's the practicalities of it all
And how to not bump into the loser

....

You won’t bump into him. You will sit in the witness area, and be taken to the court room from there. It usually has a separate entrance, and defendants don’t get to go there. You will be taken into the court room once he is already in there, and taken out back to the witness room before he leaves the court room.

You should be contacted by witness care, ask them anything you are concerned about, they are generally lovely

(Police officer so lots of experience of criminal court)

The nice you have given your evidence, there is no requirement for you to stick around, the rest of the trial can happen without you.

*once, not the nice

Ah thanks so much guys

Ok that is so so useful
I feared bumping into him on breaks etc or on my way in
Witness support have been good to be fair and so has the DC at the met he has been very good

I just have all these natural fears I guess xxxxx

Thanks all

When I went to court the staff there were very supportive and caring
It was completely separate with toilets and I took my lunch in with me

Thank you

I just think I need to try and visualise it all

The scum will no doubt have told lots of lies
I'm trying to prep myself for his legal team ripping me to shreds

I think I meet cps the morning that it all starts

By visualise I mean plan ahead and mentally prepare myself for the worse
And for the lying scumbag to get away with it all

Hi I have been through this recently (twice as he appealed!) and it is not a nice experience but you can do it!

Take a friend or contact a local DA charity and they will send someone to be with you and the Witness Support people are wonderful.

Apart from the ridiculous amount of plastic anti Covid screens in court, the court feels ok, the judge was welcoming, the CPS barrister was good and as usual the rage was all coming from my husband and his Rottweiler barrister who was horrible and out to trip me up and discredit me but you just have to remain calm, stick with what happened and don’t give them anymore than is in your statement.

It is a very sad situation to be in but i feel good that the truth has been believed (twice).

You can do it and there is a wave of lovely mumsnetters with you. Xxxx

Ah thanks so much for this

Sorry to hear you went through it twice !!!!

Hope he got what he deserved

I am worried how I will respond to his barristers going for me
I will either snap and cry or go silent

I'm trying to prep myself as best I can
So the barristers speak to you on the day of the trail?

The barrister (assuming crown court?) will most likely pop down and introduce themselves in the morning before it all starts. They can’t coach you on what to say or what questions will be asked. You will get a chance to read your statement before giving evidence. You can take a friend to support you - or do you maybe have an IDVA?

I’ve been cross examined in court many times.

Every question you are asked: stop, take a breath, repeat the question in your head. Think about the answer. If they are suggesting something that is incorrect, stay calm and say so. Explain your point of view again. It’s hard, but don’t take anything the defence says personally, it is their job. Try as best you can to stay calm. Direct your answers to the jury (again, am assuming crown court). Believe in yourself and your strength for getting this far

It sounds really stressful for you. I hope he gets the punishment he deserves.

Hello all

Thanks so much

So direct answer to judge or jury?
It's crown court

I'm worried i will freeze

It was extreme abuse and attempted murder
He says I lied and made it all up
I have loads of evidence and emails where he admits many things
But he has pleaded guilty !!!!!!

Not guilty sorry 😣

And sorry when they do say things that he has lied about
Do I answer 'sorry this is incorrect'
Or try to explain it all in the correct way?

Sorry for all the questions

Goodness I volunteered for witness support at Southwark Crown Court in the late 90s so pleased to see it’s still going.

We always advised people giving evidence to direct their answers to the Judge, the Judge is impartial and there to ensure protocol is followed, it can be quite unnerving to be looking towards a full jury.

I always followed this when I later gave evidence in cases.

Take a breath through your nose and breath out when the questioned is asked before answering, it has a calming effect. You can just say, yes or no if you feel it’s warranted, the judge may direct you if he/she feels it’s not sufficient but of course answer to the best of your ability.

If you’re shaking, many do, don’t worry it really is not unexpected, you can ask for water.

Also remember the CPS have to have a very strong case before it even gets to Court stage so many people believe you and are behind you and supporting you. Many you don’t know or may never meet, the case file workers, barristers assistance, CPS, Police Officers if you have any doubts you have an army supporting you, wanting justice for you, and admiring you and your strength, even if you don’t believe it yourself.

Wow @FAQs that's so useful
There are around 40 very serious incidents

And I have around 20 pieces of evidence or people who saw the attack

But yet he is saying I'm the abuser and that I'm lying
Actually he is saying we are all Lying inc the police

The d c has been lovely and the witness support people all v helpful just so scared

Don’t worry about him lying, your barrister will quite enjoy that, lots of lovely material to work with, lying usually results in being tripped up over and over and get himself into all sorts of knots, he will damage his own defence by doing that, jury’s usually see through it.