Has anyone felt pressured to give witness statement to a crime and hasn't done? Were you still summoned to court?

[Rock94]

For context I witnessed a hit and run but only saw the colour of the car, no other identifying features. I am pregnant with severe anxiety and recently was assaulted and I don't want to attend court so I'm not keen on going on record with a statement. I don't think there were other witnesses but I have been feeling ill for days now over anxiety. Will I be more likely to be witnessed summoned to court if I do give a statement? Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Please be kind.

I very much doubt you will be asked to go to court if all you saw was the colour.

I would give your statement to the police.

They often use written statements in court with no wines present. If they did ask you to go to court plead pregnant / feeling ill.

I have seen much more lengthy and detailed witnesses’ statements read by police or given to the jury as documents in quite complex trials.

You cannot be forced to give a witness statement. The police/CPS can serve you with a witness summons and force you to give evidence - they may even threaten you with this in order to put pressure on you to give a statement. However no solicitor worth their salt would ever put a witness on the witness stand in court without knowing exactly what they are going to say - as the risk of them saying something unhelpful is too great. So if you really don't want to give evidence then don't give a witness statement and if they threaten you with e witness summons just hold firm. I guarantee you will not be called as a witness. I say this as a non practising criminal litigation solicitor - ( have both defended and prosecuted) and has seen this happen. If you give a statement you are likely to be called as a witness and if you fail to turn up in court there could be consequences. So safest course of action is not to give a statement.