GBH sentence

[ladyvirus]

2 friends got into a fight with 2 security guards in a bowling place! the fight was un-necessary and it was provoked by the security guard himself ....

i thought that security guards were there for securing the place and keeping trouble out of sight , but this sitaution was different they wanted to have a fight! and the fight was started by them ..it got out of hand, police were called in and now my friends are getting done for something that wasnt there fault ...they may get done for GBH ...how mad is that? do you think they will get done for GBH ???

[dannydingbat]

Nothing, but nothing forces anyone to have a fight with anyone else. If you are saying that there was an unprovoked attack on two people by two others and there is evidence to support it, the Court will see the evidence and deal with it. I have never had a fight in 56 years of existence. Whether your friends will be charged depends on the strength of that evidence. GBH requires some substantial injury to the victimn. From what you have probably been told, you believe your friends to be entirely blameless. However, other aspects suggest that they may well have been spinning you a line.

[ladyvirus]

i know that they are not to blame because i was there with them and so were alot my other friends, even though the police have taken our statements its still not making a difference!

there were CCTV camera's there but the staff at that bowling place stopped it and removed the tape ...police are not even trying to find the tape,my friends were doing nothing apart from enjoying themselves, and one of the secrity guard went up to y friend and said to move his bike from from the premises, which my friend did and asked him if there was anywhere he can put it safely for the meantime...the security guard said he will try ...and he went off and then his mate the other guard comes along acting all big and started saying things and pushing my friend ...now when someone pushes you, your not going to stand there and take it so he pushed him and said leave me alone! then the other security guard comes back from nowhere with bottles,and was smashing it in their heads ....now you tell me who started this whole thing? and how come the security guards are getting away with this ....?

[Champagne]

I witnessed a similar situation in a nightclub where 3 bouncers set upon one guy. I didn't know the reason behind the fight, but I did know that it was wrong for the bouncers, in a professional sense, to deal with the situation that way. When the police arrived I stepped forward as a witness.

It transpired that the guy was the innocent party and he decided to sue the nightclub. I was never called upon to be a witness in court but when I saw the policeman many months later I asked about the outcome and he told me that the bouncers were charged due to my witness statement alone. It was very satisfying to say the least!

If your friends are the innocent party here then I doubt they'd be done for GBH. Plus the guards reactions to the fight will be accounted for. I'm sure they'll be fine.

Shame there isn't a witness to support their claims though.

[bigmango]

The police must be reminded of the CCTV tapes and that it is their duty to obtain them as they are important evidence. Your friends need to be in touch with a criminal law solicitor to act in their defence. He should also request a copy of the tapes. If the company claim there are no tapes then it is for the police to find out why. This in itself will be important to your friends defence. Did the police take possession of any broken glass at the scene for fingerprint checks. Have the security men admitted to using bottles. If so then they are guilty of offensive weapons. Were any of your friends injured during the fight. What wewre the injuries

[##Wardy##]

Mmmmmmmmmmmm. How do you know they stopped the tapes?? May I suggest that you yourself arrest those responsible under your common powers for perverting the course of justice? Just an idea or are you "assuming" this is what happenned?

I am sorry, but for me, the self-appointed greatest criminsl mind on AB, there really are far too many holes in this short story to make any decent suggestion.

All I will say, if there are a so many people saying the bouncers started the fight, witnesses mentioning bottles etc, there is no way a jury will convict anybody is there?

Don't worry. They are free. Just see it as an inconvienience.