Not Guilty in Crown Court

[SHELLP]

Have finally been given a date for the court case against my ex to be heard 13th October. He has just had a plea and directions hearing and is still going not guilty so I have had all papers through to give evidence against him. Can he still change his plea to guilty and if he does so does that mean I wont have to give evidence against him.

[harryt]

I have just had a court case where i was due to give evidence against someone on the 30/9/08 he pleaded not guilty, i then got a call 2 weeks ago saying he has changed his plea to guilty and iwas no longer required to give evidence.
So depending on what the case is for i presume it will be similar to my experience.

[SHELLP]

Its for ABH against me dont know if he has to go back to court before the 13.10 but hope he changes his plea to guilty dreading going to court.

[cassa333]

They can change their pleat any time. I was on dury duty in March and the amount of cases that change plee 10 minutes before you are due to go up is AMAZING... So yea he can still change.

[sara3]

yes, Shell. he can change his plea at any time. often there is a last minute panic and that's when they go guilty. his legal rep, I'm sure, will be doing his best to make him change his plea to guilty.. all things considered! if he goes guilty you won't have to give evidence.

I have to head for work now so will maybe catch up with you later.

chin up girl, you're almost there x

[New Judge]

Many defendants change their plea �at the courtroom door� on the day of the trial.

The main reason this occurs is that they wait to see which of the prosecution witnesses turn up and so assess the strength of evidence available on the day. This is a gamble they take because by maintaining a not guilty plea to that late stage they lose the full discount (usually one third) which is given for an early guilty plea. A late guilty plea still earns some discount, but usually only five to ten percent.

Of course if few or no prosecution witnesses turn up the onus is on the prosecution to seek an adjournment. Judges and magistrates are less sympathetic to these requests than they used to be and if an adjournment is refused the prosecution will have to offer no evidence and the defendant walks free.

If a late guilty plea is entered you will not be required to give evidence.