Anyone ever appeared in court as a witness?

[British Bulldog]

Good stuff.

It can get to the point, with a defence brief throwing all sorts at you, where you start to question your own recollection of things. That's the way they work, they try to cast doubt on your version to convince the magistrates that you've got it all wrong, so the better you have it committed to memory, the easier it will be.

Your not wrong there Edna! I gave evidence in a crown court once and there was 4 defence lawyers going at it, By the end of the second day I left the court with a spinning head and vowing to turn a blind eye next time I witness something serious.

 

[The Large One]

I once appeared as a witness for the defence.

The prosecution barrister is no less likely to try and punch holes in your story than a defence barrister would for the prosection witness. And that's exactly what happened.

Thankfully I was only on the stand for about 20 minutes or so (although it could have been an hour for all I could remember now), he did try and make out - among other things - that I'd colluded with the defendant before the trial (total bollocks). I stood firm on recalling the events just as I'd recalled them. Afterwards, when I asked the defence barrister why the prosecuting barrister did that, he merely said, 'Well, like Mandy Rice-Davies said '...he would, wouldn't he...?'

 

[Lord Bracknell]

... as soon as the witnesses have all arrived, it's hey presto, change the plea to guilty, and claim a reduction on the sentence for the fact that they have entered said plea (even though everyone has wasted time and money when they could have done it months before)

A young person of my acquaintance was once charged with some offence or other connected with an anti-roads protest. He stuck with his 'not guilty' plea, even at the point at which the prosecution witnesses showed up.

That turned out to be the right decision, once the first witness was asked the question: "Looking around the court, do you recognise any of the the people who committed this offence?"

Answer: "No".


Marvellous scenes.

 

[algie]

I've done jury service

 

[El Presidente]

I've done jury service

So have I, was Chairman of the jury too because (and I quote) "You read The Times" !

 

[ali jenkins]

I got called as a witness a few years ago about an assult and a 'death threat' (this was just the tip of the iceberg of what had happened between the people involved).

I got as far as the witness waiting room and then he changed his plea to guilty and I had waisted a whole day!

Dont worry about not remembering what happened, they give you your statement to read while your waiting, and a good job they did aswell because it was over a year since the incident happened and it was all a bit blury

 

[El Presidente]

I suspect he will plead guilty, mainly on the grounds that there are a couple of dozen victims. He is a complete tool but that is part of being a crim I guess.

 

[ali jenkins]

I haven't, but I would absolutely love to. I'm also dying for the day I get called for jury service. They'd be guilty before they stepped in the dock!

This will cause a RIOT!

 

[El Presidente]

They'd be guilty before they stepped in the dock!

Sounds like the trial of 1067 all over again!

 

[m20gull]

So have I, was Chairman of the jury too because (and I quote) "You read The Times" !

I was "elected" chairman because I turned up in a suit!

 

[Motogull]

I've given evidence and was bricking it beforehand. The court had a service which involved people coming and chatting which helped a bit. When in the box, listen carefully. Answer yes or no if you can. You can ask for the question to be clarified. Don't wear an fcuk t-shirt or swear.