What to expect at Trial?

[Rights Fighter]

No - it doesn't show on applications.

[doubletake]

hi

Hi, ok so how will u PM me from there? becuause i dont remember the forum :/ can you please give me web adress again please? or i'm not going to be able to get to your PM's

[Saffron]

Hi DT
I would also add that your partner should not wear shoes with laces, because if he is deemed to be "at risk" of self harm the shoelaces will be taken away from him. LIkewise belt and tie. R could manage without a belt/tie when he was sent down, but shoes with no laces made him shuffle like something out of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest!
I hope it doesn't come to that for you.

[doubletake]

Hello

Hi saffron ok thanks

[Rights Fighter]

DT I have sent you a PM from my forum. Check your emails and also the spam/junk boxes in case it arrives there. I cannot do any more until you do that.

[doubletake]

Hello

Hello, I've replied

[LS]

DT
Also bear in mind that anyone giving evidence on your behalf as a witness is not usually allowed to sit in the courtroom before they give evidence.

This means they have to wait outside, and also miss the prosecution case and the accusations.

[LS]

Very important

Very important. If you don't want your photo taken by the press, then during breaks from the court hearing, STAY AWAY from the entrance doors.

When I was at trial there was a car park in sight of the court entrance, and at the back of the car park a photographer had a tripod sat in front of his car, remotely operated.
This meant anyone looking for someone with a cameraman/photographer would think the area was clear, when in fact you had to look really hard to spot a tripod in a busy car park.

Best thing is avoid the front entrance at all costs, or if you have to loiter there for a smoke, keep your face turned towards the court.


Also,
Should you be found guilty, but released and to be sentenced at a later date, be very wary of callers to your home. The local press will often call round and ring the doorbell in the hope you'll answer, while a colleague at the end of the driveway will be sat with a camera on you.
In that scenario, you'd be best getting someone else to answer the doorbell, or not at all.

[LS]

Saffron, RF, DT, this has reminded me that we don't have a What to expect at Trial sticky.

I'll try to put one up and we can all add/amend/change it.

[Rights Fighter]

I am a tad concerned that some people will worry about this and become paranoid that pictures will taken at any time. In some cases a press embargo will be ordered so this will not apply.

[doubletake]

Hi

Hello, i dont quite understand what u mean RF?

[LS]

I would say better to be aware of what happens than to be blissfully ignorant. I think only in cases where the victim was your family member would you be the subject of a D notice.

For the average joe here, they won't have that luxury and once the press have your photo - as they have mine - they know what you look like, and you really wouldn't want to find yourself in the NoTW later on.

I would love to be able to turn the clock back to before they got my pic in the 2nd case.
Prevention is far better than the cure.

[Rights Fighter]

I am a little worried that some people might assume that there will be somebody waiting outside in a car with a hidden camera. This can add to the paranoia which always accompanies false allegation cases and I am worried that people will start to see things that are not really happening.

A press embargo is something that the barrister can apply to the judge for - which means that the defendant cannot be named or identified in any way. A press embargo usually happens when a vulnerable person (ie a child or elderly / frail person) could be at risk from bullying.

[doubletake]

hi RF

do u think we wud be entiteld to a A press embargo from what ive told u over the phone?

[Rights Fighter]

Not at the moment but then we didn't talk for too long. I can ring you tomorrow if you like.

Not all defendants are named even if there is no press embargo. The elderly gent I told you about did not have that, yet he has not been named, as far as I can see, at least online.