GBH with intent.. my first ever offence and i/m innocent

[dubsta]

i was in a pub when a fight broke out with my frineds and another group. i was the only one not to throw a punch. and i felt like a coward after. anyway after the fight i stemed the blood from a wound that my pal recieved from a bottle and we all went to his flat after and had a drink until the early hours. i fell asleep and in the afternoon the police knocked and arrested my friend because someone had been stabbed almost to death and his name was put forward. because i had blood on my shirt they also arrested me. the blood is my friends and forensics will prove that but i also match the description of one of the attackers. I am totally innocent and i never see any stabbings taken place. i have never been arrested before and i hate violence.i have been bailed until march but am so scared of being charged i am thinking about running abroad or suicide. there is no way i am going to prison. not for me but it will kill my fiancee. as anyone been in a similar scenario and what should i expect.. what sort of sentence if any. all comments are appriecated.

[Dolly1308]

Get yourself a lawyer -quick.

[Ollie_P]

A. Don't run abroad
B. Don't commit suicide
C. Do you know who stabbed the guy?
D. If it wasn't you or your friend then be honest with the Police.
E. I love my best friends like they were my brothers, but I wouldn't cover for them if they'd almost murdered someone.

[skyep]

dubsta - Has the pub got cctv? Hopefully you will get off with this. You will need to choose your friends wisely in future! Good luck!

[willowman]

If the event happened as you describe then I hope you prove your innocence.
But maybe from this you can learn a few things.
1 Choose your friends carefully. If you don't want to get in fights don't associate with guys who do.
2. Don't go to pubs/clubs where there is a likelyhood of trouble.
3. At the first hint of trouble LEAVE the pub/club. Don't wait around to see what happens. At one nightclub in Skegness in the 70's my mate and I were being stared at by a group of lads, so we left - no messing about, we decided it would be safer to go elsewhere.

I am now approaching 60, have been drinking in pubs all my life and have never been involved in a bar brawl, because I follow the above rules.

[laurence2]

Running away or contemplating suicide would be an admission of guilt, i strongly recommend you get legal advice ASAP.
Get all the information which will assist you to prove your innocent ie DNA, CCTV, Witnesses, but most of all, be up front and honest with yourself, what i mean by this is, it might be tempting to lie for your mates, but you might finish up paying a heavy price for this ie {prison}, you would'nt be the 1st person in the wrong place at the wrong time who gets the blame.
I agree with other post as well in regards to your so-called friends, get some new friends because if all works out well for you in this scenario, you might not be so lucky next time

[Tiny E. A]

I think running away abroad or suicide would be a hell of a lot harder for your fiancee to cope with than being charged. I you weren't there then the police can have absolutely no evidence against you, don't panic, get a lawyer, don't be intimidated by police scare tactics.

[MrBen5]

Hmmm dubsta , i have been in similar scenarios. Dont worry about it. They had to arrest you at the time as per procedure (as you met the description). When all the evidence is gathered and if it goes to court, it should distance you from the the actual assault. Although you didnt throw a punch though, you was there.
The most you will get charged with is just being an accessory. As you havent been in trouble before, you may get a small fine and at worst a suspended sentence.
Your mate might not be so lucky. He will be charged with wounding with intent and could end up inside for a couple of years.
Dont think all this will happen over night though. It will probably take anything from 6 months to a year to get to crown court.
Just see a solicitor and get him to have a look at the eveidence and the actual charge. He will instruct you better and hopefully put your mind at ease...

[Dolly1308]

Like I said get a lawyer .

[Marvelman]

Take the advice of Dolly, and get a lawyer now.