Will i have to go to court?

[Falkor]

Is there something you're not telling us? Did you attack the women or kill someone? I can't see what there is to worry about, you're going to tell the truth, not your problem if the law works or fails, you'll just be saying what you saw and that's it.

they live extremely close to me, i have a 9week old son, im hoping to give evidence behind a screen

 

[ozzygull]

Drink drivers over the limit should get an automatic jail sentence of 6 months rising as to how much the limit they are over.
I have worked in many A&E depts over the years and seen dead children with missing body parts pregnant mothers dead etc etc families ripped apart because some twat has a drink and drives their car.
VERMIN !!!!
Easy solution don't drink ANY alcohol at all if you are going to drive !!!

100% this

 

[Triggaaar]

they live extremely close to me, i have a 9week old son, im hoping to give evidence behind a screen

Is it a dodgy area, or are they just a really dodgy household? I ask because lots of fairly nice, silly people, drink and drive, but they not the sort of people that would harm a witness or their family. If you need to be fearful, obviously that's very stressful.

 

[Falkor]

Is it a dodgy area, or are they just a really dodgy household? I ask because lots of fairly nice, silly people, drink and drive, but they not the sort of people that would harm a witness or their family. If you need to be fearful, obviously that's very stressful.

Wouldnt say it is dodgy at all, but you never know in todays world, its the fact they live so close thats the issue to me mate

 

[Triggaaar]

Easy solution don't drink ANY alcohol at all if you are going to drive !!!

It's not an easy solution, as people still have alcohol in their blood the day after they've been drinking. That doesn't mean they're not perfectly safe to drive.

 

[Triggaaar]

Wouldnt say it is dodgy at all, but you never know in todays world, its the fact they live so close thats the issue to me mate

Tell the police of your concerns and try not to worry.

 

[Falkor]

Tell the police of your concerns and try not to worry.

just did and this is why there talking about putting a screen up.

 

[Eggmundo]

Wouldnt say it is dodgy at all, but you never know in todays world, its the fact they live so close thats the issue to me mate

Good on you Falkor, remember she could of easily killed someone so you have done exactly the right thing. And if she does have a pop at you remind her she was the twat who drunk drive, not you. She gets away with it she'll do it again, and it might not turn out as harmless.

 

[Hillian1]

Had the same sort of thing, I witnessed an assault years ago and when it went to court I realised he lived just round the corner from me.

I'm fairly sure they won't allow a screen but once you are a witness you become a fairly well protected species, one call to the OB and they will be round like a rat out of a trap.

Was very uncomfortable seeing them around after that though.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

It's not an easy solution, as people still have alcohol in their blood the day after they've been drinking. That doesn't mean they're not perfectly safe to drive.

I think you're on rather dodgy territory there, if there's enough alcohol in the blood, you'll get prosecuted, whether it was drunk the day before or not.

 

[Mellotron]

Drink drivers = utter scum of the earth. There is NO excuse.

 

[Triggaaar]

I think you're on rather dodgy territory there, if there's enough alcohol in the blood, you'll get prosecuted, whether it was drunk the day before or not.

I'm well aware of that and agree with it. My point is that if the legal limit was zero (ie, don't have a single drink), then people who had a tiny amount left from the night before would be guilty, even though they were to all intense and purpose safe to drive (not to be compared with those that are over the current limit the next day).

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Relax, as Severnside Gull suggests, it's all a big game by the defence lawyers.

They keep pleading not guilty until the day of the trial, as for a (relatively) minor offence, if a witness doesn't turn up, they'll bin the whole thing rather than adjourn the hearing at public expense for another day, so it's commonplace for the lawyers to play the system, wait until the trial date, and then if all the witnesses show up, they advise the client to change their plea to guilty and everyone can go home (except the client, depending on the sentence).

Personally, I don't feel you should get a single ounce of credit when it comes to sentencing for a guilty plea that late, but somehow they do.

Try not to worry too much Falkor, I once ended up having to dial 999 because I saw (off duty) a neighbour of mine punching his girlfriend. I went round to try and stop it, then waited for the police to arrive, whereby he got nicked. I wrote a statement, he admitted everything and pleaded guilty to the subsequent charge. I was the only independent witness, so it's not like he could have blamed anyone but me if he so chose.

The day I got home after his court case- which I obviously didn't have to attend because of his plea- he'd left a note through my door saying something along the lines of "Sorry I've been a total twat, can only apologise, and I hope there's no hard feelings". He'd already moved out.

Not everyone holds a grudge, or blames other people for their own stupidity, if that makes you feel any better

 

[ManxSeagull]

Drink drivers = utter scum of the earth. There is NO excuse.

Totally agree

 

[happypig]

Relax, as Severnside Gull suggests, it's all a big game by the defence lawyers.

They keep pleading not guilty until the day of the trial, as for a (relatively) minor offence, if a witness doesn't turn up, they'll bin the whole thing rather than adjourn the hearing at public expense for another day, so it's commonplace for the lawyers to play the system, wait until the trial date, and then if all the witnesses show up, they advise the client to change their plea to guilty and everyone can go home (except the client, depending on the sentence).

Personally, I don't feel you should get a single ounce of credit when it comes to sentencing for a guilty plea that late, but somehow they do.

The rationale behind it is that by going guilty on the day you have saved the witnesses the ordeal of giving evidence.
Reduction for a plea on the day is 10%

Personally I'd like it changed so that the bench or judge may, by discretion, give up to a third but must give reasons so that, for example, someone caught red handed after running away wouldn't automatically get the same discount as someone who hands them self in.

I'd also like to see prisoners serve the full sentence as handed down as long as they behave. Mess about and the governor adds time.

 

[BensGrandad]

I'd also like to see prisoners serve the full sentence as handed down as long as they behave. Mess about and the governor adds time.

Ssh you wil upset the do gooders and also we would need to build a lot more prisons because the ones we have are nearly full.

 

[csider]

You will be labeled a grass & be hounded out of house & home.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Garbage - testify and be proud,

 

[Durlston]

Best of luck with it, Falkor.

I know we have not always seen eye to eye but you always believe in doing the right thing. Hopefully she'll be banned from driving for a very long time.

 

[Falkor]

Best of luck with it, Falkor.

I know we have not always seen eye to eye but you always believe in doing the right thing. Hopefully she'll be banned from driving for a very long time.

thanks means alot after everything