Voluntary interview - Don't know the accusation!!!

[Peter1975]

So sorry to hear this, you must be devastated for this to be still be hanging over you after all this time but trying to look on the positive side, it's only the second worst result you could have had and you have faced a long and gruelling ordeal with courage and fortitude and I have no doubt you will pick yourself back up to continue the fight.

I have no clue about what happens now in a s28 trial and whether the accuser could be called back to answer questions about the logs or if their evidence will just be replayed to a new jury in the event of a retrial. What I do know is that many barristers are not happy about conducting s28 trials because of scheduling problems and poor remuneration. It's very common for barristers to become unavailable for a scheduled trial and another one take over but if they have already recorded the s28 cross exam, they are committed to conducting the trial and I think I'm right in saying that applies to the judge as well. In other words, it could be while until both barristers and judge are all available, though I believe there is a government diktat to prioritise s28 trials too, so who knows?

Anyway, hopefully you won't have too long to wait and like CH, I will be keeping my fingers crossed the CPS reconsider the case in light of the late disclosure and decide to offer no evidence.

Please keep your chin up. You haven't come this far to only come this far.

[Batmother]

Hi Smith22. It had never entered my head that a ‘hung jury’ could be an outcome. Being in Scotland I don’t believe that is an option here as we still for now any way have 3 possible scenario’s ie Guilty, Not Guilty, Not Proven. I can’t imagine how you are feeling To have this dragged out for this long too. I hope that the CPS will drop this now as it must be slapping them in the face that their ‘case’ is weak at best, the stress that they have put you under and lastly the cost to run with this farce. I have read that they have 14 days to make a decision on whether to go for a retrial or not but that might be ‘duff’ information. I hope you hear far sooner and that they do the honourable thing. Keep your head up, you’re still here , still fighting it, you will prevail. All the best to you.