affray and mental breakdown

[nailit]

I would appriciate any advice.
Back in May i was suffering from depression. I have been on medication for it for 3 years. After my marriage split up I became worse and began to feel suicidal, I actualy thought that I had gone mad. I began drinking heavily to cope. After drinking a half bottle of vodka I turned up at my mums in a state of desperation after considering throwing my self under a train, I sat crying and my sister turned up and rang the police (she said later that my behaviour was bizare and she thought I was having some sought of fit, she rang the police to get me to a place of safty). I went into the kitchen and picked up a knife and cut my wrist. The next thing I remember is the police pointing tasers at me. I threw the knife down.
The police have said that I picked up the knife when they entered the kitchen (thus constituting an affray) my nephew who was stood in the doorway has stated that I was already holding the knife when the police entered.
I am in crown court in 3 weeks to put a plea in. So far I have seen 5 different solicitors from the same firm and they all advise me differently.
Im scared of going prison as my mental health isnt good at the moment.
What will likely happen to me?

[nailit]

also, I have not been before the courts for 10 years (the last time I recieved a 3 month sentence for assault) My sister wishes to speak for me in court to tell them about my mental health at the time but has been told that she cannot. I dont feel that I can have a fair hearing. Im holding on to my life by a thread at the moment.

[nailit]

please, can anyone help me????

[bednobs]

You can only give us a brief precis of the facts here, and necessarily you give us YOUR view of things, not the police's, therefore it's very difficult for ANYONE to say what will happen (as evidenced by the fact that the solicitor's who are people with daily experience in this area and the benefit of all the facts can't even give you a definitive answer)

[EDDIE51]

Are you certain that the solicitors have all the facts about your mental state as that will be vital to the case ?
You need to see a doctor urgently and explain your mental problems , if the doctor agrees you have a real problem he / she should write to the court and explain that you need investigation by a qualified mental health team. This will take time so the first thing to do is get your solicitor to ask for an adjournment while medical investigations are made.

[nailit]

thanks, Solicitor has already wrote to my doctor, I am also awaiting an appointment with a mental health centre.
I dont understand why my sister isnt allowed to speak for me in court? i understand that its maybe because it was she who called th police in the first place but she never witnessed the actual 'offence' as she was in another room at the time but her testomy to my mental state at the time could give the court an idea that i was not threatening to anyone but myself.
The police are making out that i commited an affray when in fact I was seriously suicidal (I had tried to choke myself with my jumper while in the cells). I feel im been put through the courts when I need help, not punishment.

[EDDIE51]

I assume that as it was your sister who called the police she is a witness and can't give evidence for you. even if she didn't see the actual event she can say what led up to it.