Attending court

[Red4]

I have been summonsed to attend court tomorrow to give evidence against my husband for domestic violence. He has previous history of domestic violence towards me.

I really do not want to give evidence and it says that in my statement. He is on a 2 years suspended. He only assaulted me by grabbing me. What will happen if i don't speak if I'm called in the court room??

[andy-hughes]

If you refuse to answer as directed by Council, you may be held in contempt of court, which can result in a fine, or if the juidge decides it is serious enough (very unlikely in this scenario) there can be a a custodial sentence.

From the tone of your messsage - "he ONLY assaulted me by grabbing me ..." it appears that maybe you are having second thoughts?

This sort of approach is at the root of the epidemic of domestic violence in this country.

Because you feel he may be punished as a rsult of your evidenvce, you feel reluctant to spek.

Wrong - he will be punished because of his actions - assault - not yours - telling the truth about it.

If you backtrack now, what happens? Do you have to wait until he 'only' blacks your eyes or breaks your arms?

This man is violent, and he must be stopped. You feeling guilt or a misplaced sense of 'mercy' will not stop him - it will simply grant him the freedom to excuse himself from doing it again - and believe me, he will. He has a suspended sentence - I assume this is also for assault - so the message is not getting through to him is it?

Go to court, speak your truth, and hold your head up high.

You do not have to suffer physical abuse from anyone, that is why the law protects you.

Do not weaken on the day - he won;t weaken when he assaults you again - and next time he won;t stop at 'only' grabbing you.

Good luck.

[Red4]

He has already given me black eyes, and beat me up in Spain on holiday with my family, but i dropped them charges he could have gone to jail in Spain, but i was in a different country with my children and dropped them.

Wish i never now, i could have got on wity my life.

Thanks for you answer anyway.

[andy-hughes]

You can hardly be expected to condone his behaviour by not testifying then, can you?

This man should be out of yours, and youre childrens' lives - so go and see if you can get his suspended sentence invoked, and make him understand that violence is not his right or pleasure.

You know I am right, don't you.

[terambulan]

Give ur evidence.....get the bully fined or locked-up so he can't hurt another.

He'll know learn about bullying 'inside'!

[New Judge]

If you really do not want to give evidence (and it is my belief that you should, but that is not the question) you should turn up for court as summonsed. However, your recollection of events may not be quite as sharp as it was when you made your statement. That is, you may have "forgotten" everything about the events in question.

You cannot be prompted by the prosecutor (as that would be "leading" you and is not allowed) and nobody can prove otherwise. Simply say that you cannot remember when asked questions.

[RevFunk]

I agree with tetjam you probably deserved it for looking at him "a bit funny"

If you had half a brain cell you would get himbanged up and whilst in prison start a new life.

[sara3]

he'll treat you like a doormat for so long as you're willing to be one. his time has come. Andy is spot on.

stand up to him and get him off your back. get your self-respect back and get on with your life. no one deserves someone like him.

[nattyad]

everyone is making assumptions.
maybe she hit him first with a bottle, before he gave her a black eye??
no-one knows the story.

[Red4]

Thanks for your comments, but i would just like to say on the occasion where i got black eyes, i certainly did not hit him first!!!

[sara3]

there will always be comedians on here!.

no one "asks for it". be brave and give your evidence.

[nattyad]

no-one said anyone 'asked for it'...or ..'deserved it', but she could be 3 times his size, and he could have punched her in the face whilst she was attacking him with a knife......
.....probably highly un-likely as this was probably a mindless attack by her husband, and he probably deserves for her to testify against him and for him to be punished.....however it is silly for people to express such strong opinions on a forum about an incident they have been given such a small amount of detail about.
PS- If he was in the wrong you should tell the truth to the court.
good luck

[andy-hughes]

Actually nattyad, RevFunk did - in the post above yours, but he does have a heavy-handed 'sense of humour', which he likes to scatter around the site like a silage hose, even when it is clearly not a frivolous post.