Trial Tips

[nailit]

Have got a crown court trial coming up in 3 weeks for something which im innocent of. I have 2 policemen accusing me of something and 2 witnesses who state something quite different. By virtue of the fact that the police are uniformed people of the law I think that a jury would be more likely to believe them than my witnesses. (we all know the police dont tell lies....)Apart from the obvious (tell the truth, be polite etc) can anyone give me any tips on how to convince a jury of my innocence?

[albaqwerty]

No advice Naillit, apart from the obvious.
Just posted to say Hi and hope all goes well xx

[nailit]

thank you alba. Ive had some great support on here over the last 7 months.

[murraymints]

don't get into slagging match...keep calm.....good luck

[nailit]

thanks murry. It will be hard NOT to get into a slagging match when the police are lying through their teeth but will try to stay calm.

[murraymints]

the recent plebgate stuff will still be in mind....boys in blue not shiny white at the moment....chin up....

[ronnietoon]

decent suit mate it makes a difference

just be thankful it's in crown and not magistrates.

judges know the law(if you know what i mean)

[Goonermatt]

Out of interest, what's the SP?

Just wondering what the plod would be lying about this time...

[nailit]

murry, think theres been a few incidences this year that dont put the police in a good light.
ronnie, unfortunetly I dont own a suit but got a decent shirt and tie at least..I know what you mean about it been in crown and not magistrates.
Gooner, if you click on my profile you will see the long running saga. very basically the police caught me in the act of self harming with a kitchen knife as I was going through a mental breakdown. They pulled their tasers on me, I dropped the knife and they are saying that that I threatened them with it (affray). I was very ill at the time but they have to justify pulling there tasers I guess, even though they didnt have to deploy them.

[bednobs]

could you get a suit or jacket in a charity shop? The other thing is, buenchico often gives good advice on here (do a search) about what to take with you near the end in case the worst happens and you are imprisoned

[nailit]

bednobs, to be honest ive never owned a suit in my life, dont think id feel comfortable in one, got some smart casual clothes though.
If the worst came to the worst I know what to take with me as ive been to prison before (for things which I HAVE done and pleaded guilty to) just dont want to be inprisoned for something which I havnt done.

[nailit]

Dont even want to get found guilty for something I havnt done, never mind going jail for it.

[atalanta]

You should have some kind of defence counsel. Ask him/her if you can request the evidence of an expert witness ( psychologist ? Psychiatrist ?) about the self-harming and your probable state of mind at the time

[nailit]

atalanta, my barristor has a letter from my GP detailing my emotional/mental difficulties at the time and applied to the cps to drop the charges as not been in the public interest but they seem determined to get a conviction. I have spoke b4 on here about how the police initially refused to take statements from witnesses who say quiet different things from the police and then the day b4 my trial in october decided to delay it by going to get statements and then returning them to my solicitors as unused material.
I need to convince a jury of my innocence over what the police are saying.
Going on previous experience I know that facts alone arnt the be all and end all in court.

[New Judge]

"...can anyone give me any tips on how to convince a jury of my innocence?"

You don't have to convince the jury of anything. The prosecution has to convince them of your guilt.


""...just be thankful it's in crown and not magistrates. judges know the law(if you know what i mean)"

Very true, ronnie. But judges do not find on matters of fact. It is those matters which determine guilt or innocence and those matters are determined by the jury.

[Peter Pedant]

I cannot resist chipping in my two penny worth

Yup Juey trial - always opt for that rather than by a judge or magistate
as the acquittal rate is higher for a jury

67% when I was a student in the seventies Idont know what the moder figure is.

and good luck

[Eve]

Tell the truth, your honesty should speak for itself, being able to speak fluently and clearly (not having to think about your answers etc...), good eye contact etc...

Be smart but also make sure you are comfortable, the last thing you need is to be unvcomfortable and fidgeting in Court, looking uncomfortable could give off a strange impression.

Make sure you have appropriate clothing available in case it is warm or cold in the court room for a similar reason. Similarly, have a drink available.

How is your temper? Remaining calm and consistent is also important, the latter should not be a problem if you are simply telling the truth.

Depending on what you are up for, getting agitated or showing a temper may be counterproductive, especially under cross-examination.

Have you gone through with your legal advisor the kind of questions which will come up and what the prosecution and their witnesses are likely to say?

[baza]

very little to add, listen to any questions, formulate your answer then reply calmly. Try not to let the bu99ers beat you. Good luck on the day .B.

[Eve]

Don't let them get you wound up either, especially if you have any temper issues.

Like Baza says, take you time in answering, don't blurt things out. If you are not sure of a question, what they are asking etc... then ask them to repeat it or clarify what they are asking.

If you find you are getting wound up then take a minute, breathe, have a drink, relax...

If this could be an issue then ask your legal advisor on the best way to deal with it. The Judge should not allow aggressive confusing questioning and your legal counsel will be there too but knowing techniques in advance may be helpful. Remember the Court is there to see the interests of justice served and proceedings run properly and fairly - it's not (shouldn't be!) a chance for them to try and undermine you through "clever"advocacy techniques. It's not how you see on the TV in dramas.

[nailit]

thank you all for positive and helpful replies, much appriciated guys.

[ronnietoon]

@new judge

crown court judges have the right to dismiss evidence or to direct the jury to find a person not guilty.

i have respect for your views

but to be a magistrate all you need is to be a upstanding member of the said community

as im sure you are aware that a judge needs to be qc for at least ten years before even applying