witness summons

[Mrsab]

I have just heard i will be issued with a summons to attend court as a prosecution witness.
I haven't received it yet, without me there is no case, and i don't want any charges or convictions, but this UK system punishes so called victims even further by ensuring there lives are screwed beyond repair.........
after an argy bargy both at faut, a few days later my husband got arrested
I'llsave the long story,,,, I have retracted a statement, written to the Police and CPS confirming I do not support prosecution. ( Husband is defendant)

The officer in charge of my case has given a view she feels i am doing that because i am scared, even though i have told her several times thats not the case i just want my husband back home and get on with my life.

I have 4 kids, youngest is 3 months old and the rest are in primary school, how can i make all this go away,
I will not attend court, i have read about about summons etc, failing to attend contempt etc so save me all that pls
pls advise if anyone can, i will not turn up ( dont advise me to do so because i wont my statement was exaggerated i was very angry someone said my husband was having an affair and i believed it without any collaboration, i have since found out the bitch was rejected by my husband and she lied to me)
I am so sorry for what has happened and I cant afford for any further aggravation with my life, what will they likely do to me if i do not attend,,,,,, i am yet to find out if my huby will have me back anyway,,,,, either way i wont live with m,yself if anything happenms to him, his job, i'm so upset and angry with myself

[woofgang]

well you culd write to the court and say what you have said here.....

[Mrsab]

thank you but I'm looking for an answer to what will they likely do to me if i do not attend,,,,,,

[Gladeian]

If you fail to attend the court can issue a warrant for your arrest - you could be held in custody and brought before the court when they are ready to hear you - you would be able to make your representations to the court then - best thing is to answer the summons and possibly save yourself time in the cells

[Mrsab]

Eddie5 please advice if i attend i don't have to speak, but what happens if I'm treated as a Hostile witness.

[Mrsab]

I haven't received the summons yet, what if i dissappear for a few months????/
pls advise really desperate

[ummmm]

You have children to think about. Go to court for Gods sake and explain what happened. If not have a babysit on standby for when the come to arrest you.

[Mrsab]

Thank you to everyone who has responded,,, pls note im really desperate to hear from anyone who knows what is likely to happen if i do not attend, i wont be home at the time of the trial, afterward what are they likely to do, i know about being arrested and taken to court, i need to know about sentencing,, whats the likelihood of a mother of 4 so called victim being sentenced for not answering a witness summons

[ummmm]

Unlikely...very unlikely.

[NOX]

The thing is MrsAB, if you don't attend court you don't just have all the afterwards malarkey to deal with of being arrested etc, you will actually make it WORSE for your husband as the court is likely to assume that you have been terrified off giving evidence.
If you go, you can explain exactly what you have just explained to us and you stand a chance of being believed, if not you will be arrested and it might very well go very badly for your husband. If you have lied in your statement you might be done for wasting police time, but as you have been trying to convince them not to prosecute and have owned up at the earliest opportunity they woud be likely to go very easier on you. If you don't attend you're opening a very nasty can of worms.

[marval]

You say you have 4 children, would going away be the answer? I don't know the answer to your problem, but you do need to talk to someone. If you just don't turn up and then get arrested, what happens to your children then?

[Boisdeslandes]

Get legal advice for yourself

[Mrsab]

Eddie5 thanks for your advice, London, East London

[mike11111]

My criminal law is rusty but at the time I was a student a wife could not be compelled to give evidence against her husband. People with more recent legal experience may be able to advise further.

[Mrsab]

UK law wife can be compelled in these cases have already checked, hence the summons

[Mrsab]

sara3 please help<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[mike11111]

Thanks for that Mrsab. Interesting. You couldn't provide a link by any chance?

[Mrsab]

sorry i cant, my heads all over the place, don't remember where i saw it, but im sure

[mike11111]

It's OK, I've found it on Google. You are right - if she has made an allegation of violence against the spouse she is compellable. In this case the best advice would be to turn up at court and retract the original statement explaining the circumstances, preferably with written proof of communication with the police/CPS indicating an intention to so so.