If I retract a statement can the police charge me?

[stacieolivia]

i recently gave my events of what happened to the police in a signd statement.
what i saw was a man push a girls head through the window
i want to cancel my statement will the police charge me with wasting police time or make any other charges.
also my sister and her friend made statements they want to drop. can the case go to court?

please please help me

thanks

[bednobs]

it's worse than that i'm afraid, the case can still go to court on other evidence and you could be charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, a very serious charge which nearly always leads, upon conviction, to a lengthy prison sentence.

I have paraphrased my answer above from one of chris's previous answers on the same subject

Why are you wanting to retract you statement? Are you being pressurized? were you lying in the first place? are you lying now?

[gossipgirl]

the above answe says it all. There will be no good from retracting your statements.

[paraffin]

Firstly, bednobs, stop scaremongering! Suggesting that she could be charged with perverting the course of justice! Total poppycock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

stacieolivia: A few questions for you - 1. How soon after the incident did you make your written statement?
2. If it the answer is something like "very soon after" etc, had you been drinking? If so, were you drunk?
3. Did you volunteer a written statement or was it at the request of the Police, or anyone else?
4. Have you ever given a statement before?
5. Have you ever gone to Court before?
6. Have you tried to find out if the matter is actually going to Court? How long ago did it happen?

[jemmajem]

Ignore the idiots!! It seems like it was a horrible thing to witness and you're probably scared that if you make a statement the person that did this awful thing to the girl may then come after you and you would rather not get involved which is quite right, of cause i am only genralising!! Although you could be the only one to have witnessed the event and you could really help by giving evidence, although this is your choice and one that you will have to live with.

You almost certainly would not be charged with wasting police time, i would suggest that you phone the police officer in charge of the case, he should be helpful and listen to your concerns, once you have made a statement and i assume signed to say that you are willing to go to court you cannot simply ignore it and hope that it will go away. You must call as soon as possible and explain how you are feeling. They will not get angry with you and you will not be in trouble.

I hope it all works out for you

[Rollo]

You say you saw what you said you saw in the statement.

You don't say why you want to withdraw it.

Why do you want to withdraw it? Has somebody offered you money to withdraw it? Or are you just too scared to do the "right thing"?

[Rollo]

What are you going to do if you are summonsed to give evidence?

Lie in court? Not a good idea.

Refuse to answer questions? Not a good idea either.

[uno.who]

Don't be ridiculous .... how would you feel if you were the victim?

You made the statement, now do the decent thing!