Witness statement

[flumposie]

I've recently witnessed domestic abuse at a neighbours house from across thecroad. The perpetrator is well known drug dealer, previously been to prison for assault etc. I was asked to give a statement which I did , but said I didn't want to be a witness in court. I'm now terrified that I will be asked to (for mine and my family safety). Could this happen?

I gave a witness statement for a serious incident about 10 years ago. I think that if you are called as a witness you have to go to court if asked to.

@Redbone thank you

I don't know if it's the same, but I was a witness in a sexual assault case and I got to give evidence in a way that the man couldn't see me. I was sort of behind a screen so the judge and jury saw me but he didn't. I don't know if they still do that but there was a charity that looks after witnesses - maybe you could Google them and ask

You can request special measures to be put in place, e.g. giving evidence behind the screen.

There are new regulations/rules for certain people in court to have the sort of procedure mentioned (eg screens and in some cases giving evidence remotely).
Try not to worry about the possibility of it OP. So many cases of all kinds of crimes never go to court (sadly)