Prosecution witness for my husband charged with ABH against me

[gemini21]

I badly need help. I am a prosecution witness for my husband chrged of ABH against me. I did not get any severe injuries. The first assault was a common assault in magistrates court where he was released on bail, I reported to the police but then at a later stage did a withdrawal complaint but CPS refused to drop it and this case was postponed but my husband used to come and see my daughter. Then he broke bail by hitting me again and thsi time a man passing by phoned police and he was arrested and the man has witnessed him hitting me. The police got the knife he scratched me on my face and neck. I did not want to go to court but the DC said i need to go. Now the case is being moved from magistrates court to Crown court. I am really freaked out. I just dont want to go witness. I dont my husband to go to prison because of my child. Our relationship is done and over but at the end of the day he still is my child's dad who he adored. Please help me what can i do not to go witness. it is so awkward to do that. will i get arrested if i refused to go? I really dont want to be a witness please help

[ubasses]

I think you will be served with legal papers to attend and be treated as a hostile witness, which will mean you getting a hard time from both sides.

[bednobs]

yes, you may well get arrested if you don't go. he can't think much of hiis child if he is willing to let her see that men should beat up women and get away with it. Perhaps he hopes she too will be in an abusive relationship later in life

[daffy654]

This is a man who has been arrested twice (at least) for violence against you, do you really want your child to look up to that sort of man as a role model?

To answer your question, yes you could be arrested if you fail to turn up to court when you have been summoned as a witness.

[sara3]

contact Witness Support at the court. they will help and advise you.

best of luck.

[craft1948]

The guy hits you......then threatens you with a knife and you don't want to go to court. You're either having a laugh or you're totally dense.

[roxie_09]

yes you will need to go to court if you have been called as a witness. my sister and i are witnesses and she asked about not wanting to stand up in court, but they told her she needs to. like somebody said earlier try contacting witness support :) if you dont do this he will only do it again and maybe even worse. good luck xx

[gemini21]

Thanks to all but I just want to get over all thie and proceed with my life. the reason i still want my child to see her dad is because he has been a very good dad, better parent than i am more patient with our daughter. 18 years I have known this man but ya hitting me is a big NO-NO. I need to know what can i say in court? Can i just say i dont have anything to say? I never been to court and the witness service is not a big help despite telling me that I am not wrong. ya I know that but I need solutions. I just dont want to have this guilty feeling all my life

[bednobs]

what have you got to be guilty about?

[sara3]

did you see my post, gemini? Witness Support deal with this kind of scenario and will help you.

[ubasses]

The best thing is to tell the truth when you gget there, if you refuse to speak there is a chance you will be charged with contempt of court

[tasherl]

ok YOU NEED TO GO TO COURT!!!!!!!!! you obviously havent realised in your own head that this is not right for your child and unfortunately in dv its very hard to see any sense in the world around you and unfortunately when you love these men you think he wont do it again,GET OUT OF THIS NOW because you will then start seeing you dont need him and more importantly your child ,do you want your child to grow up in this sort of atmosphere??? thinking its right what her daady is doing??? why havent social services been invoved because they are suppose too because of your childs safety!!!! ????? and the emotinal effect its having on her how do you know how its effecting her???? this man needs to go to court and be punished,you need to go the cps are brilliant please listen,your going to be questioned by his defense and they will try turning it on you but you have to just sau what you said in your statement!!! if social workers get invoved and you dont do anything they will think your mot protecting her and she will then be at risk and placed on the register and believe me its the most stressful thing to go through!!!!!!!! please do whats right and have him stand up for what hes done if you really loved your daughter which im positive you do you will do this,be strong,it hurts when you really love soeone but there is light at the end of the tunnel promise xxxxx