Please help!!

[attheendd]

Posting here for traffic!

Has anyone had to give evidence in court regarding domestic abuse?

I just received a call and was told I will need to attend court on Thursday to give evidence. I was told that I would have around 2 weeks notice and wasn't expecting it to go to trial until at least the end of May. I'm feeling really unprepared. I can't get through to my IDVA and I have no idea what to expect.

I'm really really shit at public speaking and have been dreading this for a long time but now I have no time to prepare myself. I'm worried that I'm just going to stutter or cry and won't know what to say.

Can anyone help with with what to expect? What kind of questions will they ask? Who will be in the court?

Ring the court as they can offer witness care to prepare you and you can appear via videolink in a different part of the court building. Shitty they haven't informed you beforehand. I hope they can arrange this before Thursday for you.

The court or the CPS, or even the police, should be helping you with this - definitely ask them and keep trying to get hold of them. There are loads of measures they can request to make things easier for you if you are the victim. From the CPS point of view, it’s in their interests to support you if they want to get a guilty verdict. Victims would often be allowed to give their evidence by video link from a different room at the court, or even from behind a barrier so you don’t need to see your attacker.

I had to

The court should have a witness care office - I imagine you could probably find their number by Googling it. They can help you. Do you have an office number for where your IDVA is based? Try ringing to speak to another one/her supervisor in case yours is on leave/off sick.

Thankyou all! I have managed to get hold of my IDVA, she won't be able to come but a colleague of hers will meet me at the court.

I spoke with witness care today and they explained what will happen but obviously couldn't help me with what kind of questions they will ask. Not prepared to be cross examined when they have so much evidence.

Feeling really stressed but hopefully it will be worth it