Hi,cases are different depending on circumstances but OH received the summons charges through the post, to appear at magistrates court. That was a shock as no warning. The court will be in the area the alleged offence happened. In OH case this was over 100 miles away and you do have to attend. Charges are read out in the court and case will be sent to the Crown Court. The next stage is PCMH where he will enter his NG plea and a date set for trial. Keep,strongX

If the duty sol doesn't go then there is no legal aid. If there is no legal aid then another duty is unlikely to attend. He may not be charged with anything of course.

You can go but you would have to wait for him in the public waiting area.

I always thought that when a person is charged, they were charged verbally at the "charging desk". Maybe that has changed given that some people have said the first they have heard about being charged is by mail.

Possessions are taken out and money counted in front of the person concerned so that the the police cannot later be accused of stealing the possessions or money.

Hi no. The summons came through the post and that is the first we knew that CPS had decided to charge. I think it depends on the force and they do this now quite often in historic cases. plus the only bail conditions imposed were to live at his address and not contact FA(as though you would want to)

Thanks RF , we do not think we will get LA but should we ask for the date to be changed so that sol can attend just in case ? OH has to attend the station . ( still hoping for the NFA though )

It is entirely up to you whether you pay a duty solicitor to attend. However, you should know that that won't make a blind bit of different as to the outcome, NFA or charge, if there is, indeed an outcome. You would basically be wasting your money at that stage.

If you feel you must pay for one though, do some homework first and shop around. Not all private client solicitors are as wonderful as they pretend to be. And as I said, they cannot sway any decision in any event.

6th time, wow! i don't think having a solicitor there is going to make any difference (unless he is being re-interviewed but they would tell you before hand). If he is going to be charged they would of already made a decision and a solicitor can't change that decision. I don't know about signing a charge sheet but i would of thought you would sign your bail conditions again?? i don't think you can refuse a charge, in the same way you can't refuse to be arrested.

Keep strong regarding rumours, our FA 's mum spread her version of events like wild fire and now we got a NFA she has gone of facebook, not been seen round town at all and looks like she quit her job as well!! The more she spreads it round the worse it'll be in the long term for them, i know its really hard to see it at the moment. Plus, the only reason there spreading it around its because there starting to cr#p there selves that the police haven't already believed them.

Also, honestly worth buying a dictaphone. Have in your pocket all the time and practice putting your hand in to turn it on.. here's the one i used, originally brought for college the battery will last several days (if you turn of during the night) http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/2791362.htm I informed the OIC of the rumours and being approached by people, even though they said they can't do anything about it, i think they noted it down and it helped. If you were abused by someone, would you go round telling the whole town????

keep strong xxx