Coping after a false accusation

[Izzy]

the state I am in today izzy. I am on the brink of wishing this situation to the husband of the accuser. Let us see how she copes if the same thing happened to her husband. I am so bitter these past few days; so try to avoid the forum.

You are right you need to be stronger for your son; but be prepared there are days that being strong is harder and dont beat yourself for it. :-) Good luck with your new project!

I know the bitter feeling well and it's only been a few weeks for us fighter so I can't imagine how you are feeling.
When I first joined the forum I was panicked because I thought something had gone wrong with the system in that if a FA was made, it wouldn't be enough to arrest someone, reading the threads on here especially the historic FA's astound me in that the accused has his life torn apart and there is nothing they can do about it. The compensation part is unbelievable too, something has gone terribly wrong in our system and needs to change, it's all I've thought about these last few weeks.
I hope you are having a better day today, am thinking of you.



Thanks Kazzarat, you are really kind and it makes me feel better to know what I'm feeling isn't because I'm weak and over emotional.
Am proud of my Son, he has held his head up high, went back to work and carried on as normal, which can't have been easy, living in such a small place but everyone who know's him has been supportive so that has helped.
I hope you and your Son are managing to move on, I would think your emotions must still be all over the place after what you have been through and it will take time.

Denise, I have every emotion you have, especially on your bad days and my heart goes out to you.
I truly hope you and your Son hear some good news soon, it's what I hope for us every day.

I don't cry in front of my Son either, I try to keep strong for him but I find it just eats away at me 24 hours a day, but this forum has helped and I'm glad you've joined but sad you've had to - if that makes sense.

I really hope you and your Son will be ok too.

Love, Izzy x

[Mortons]

In all the rape cases I've worked on, especially at the police station, and speaking with clients and their parents on the phone, one of the biggest heartaches I am told is the extended periods of delay

Weeks, Months or Years on police bail.
Months between the Case at Court going to trial.

I suppose its preaching to the quoir here, but I don't always believe the police and the courts fully appreciate what is it like to have to have your life on hold. Especially where they are person is under 21 and are trying to make life decisions, study, job, career. Questionning every decision as to whether will be able to do this or that job. Its not just one defendant on bail/trial, the parents often say to me they feel like they are part of it aswell.

[Rights Fighter]

The CA judges seem to have no idea either. At an appeal last January (2011) the presiding judge told our man: "your ordeal is over. You can now leave this court and hold your head high and start afresh". Like they were offering him a cup of tea.

Start afresh??? Clearly they have never heard of "no smoke without fire" syndrome.

I had to tell the barrister that our man had no way of getting back to Wales as he had no money on him. Counsel ended up going back down to the cells and he had to persuade the officers to issue our man with a travel warrant. The barrister had no idea that this is "the norm" when there are no supporters to take the successful appellant home.

There are so many peripheral issues that too many people know nothing about.

[Mortons]

I had to tell the barrister that our man had no way of getting back to Wales as he had no money on him. Counsel ended up going back down to the cells and he had to persuade the officers to issue our man with a travel warrant. The barrister had no idea that this is "the norm" when there are no supporters to take the successful appellant home.

There are so many peripheral issues that too many people know nothing about.

The reason for this would be that in the past this would have been taken care of by the Solicitors Crown Court Clerk. With the legal aid cuts and changes to the legal profession Barristers are now having to deal more with the client and take care of this minor yet oh so important issues.

[Rights Fighter]

Absolutely - but it is very sad that the barrister had no idea that this was now the situation. He was shocked when I informed him that the client had no way of getting home.

There seems to be a lack of communication somewhere. A fortnight before the appeal I had been in touch with the Support Unit at CA and somehow communications had broken down and the message was not passed about this very thing. I had been concerned about this as I knew our man was going to walk that day.

Possibly the barrister was used to supporters being present to take the client home and had never been faced with this problem before.

[Mortons]

There seems to be a lack of communication somewhere. A fortnight before the appeal I had been in touch with the Support Unit at CA and somehow communications had broken down and the message was not passed about this very thing. I had been concerned about this as I knew our man was going to walk that day.

Normally you end up being stone-walled by some Little Britain esc 'computer says no' muppet no matter how much foresight and preparation you put into these things.

Similar with claiming for defendants costs (if aquitted),

[Rights Fighter]

Support Unit in CA is staffed by volunteers so I cannot say this was some sort of jobsworth. What I was told was - they had not received my emails.......

A recent trial I was involved with - the judge acquitted the defendant after the Crown offered no evidence and our man will have to wait about 12 months before getting his money back (he paid privately).

The first appeal I did myself which succeeded in November 2008 - I paid towards the costs (helping the appellant) and we all got our money back within 6 months (or less).

I have an idea it is a postcode lottery.

[Izzy]

I think the worst thing I've learned over the last week is that because it wasn't put through court (an hour before he was due to appear he was liberated ) there is no time limit for investigation and it will be bottom of the pile.
It will show up as pending on his record though.

[Denise]

Hi Izzy

I hope you're ok xx

[Izzy]

It seems like a bad situation now to be honest.

NFA - means that it will show up on his disclosure and affect his whole career and life after many years of study and hopes to work abroad.

Then there's the waiting part to see what is going to happen, which we are struggling with - as I know you are too.

Went for legal advise and he wrote a letter to the PF, reply said to contact them in three months if we hadn't heard from them. Unreal in the fact we are chasing the decision we fear the most.

Feeling really bitter

[Izzy]

Tried to edit my post but didn't have any luck. Meant to write a bad situation, instead of no win situation. Wonder if one of the Moderators could do it for me.

Sorry,
Izzy x

[Faith]

It's okay Izzy, we know what you mean, it's just a way of wording.

It's perfectly natural to chase a charge as there is a real opportunity to clear the name then.
It's a toss up over getting it over with sooner and avoiding further strain of a trial or being at the mercy of 12 members of the public who can give you a fresh slate...or send you down.

Sometimes it feels like a lottery.
An NFA is not necessarily the end of a career...there just may be further battles and jobs may be harder to come by. It's generally at the employer's discretion whether to employ based on an NFA. Many still will, especially if the applicant is up front about what will show up on an eCRB.
Again, a charge is not the end of the line and can be a person's best chance of fighting for a full acquittal. But it comes with the added risk that the jury might not see it the same way.

What I'm trying to say is that there is hope and hardship on either path. It's quite a lottery on which path you will receive but either outcome is fightable and we will all support you every step of the way no matter what happens.

Take care.

[Casehardened]

Tried to edit my post but didn't have any luck. Meant to write a bad situation, instead of no win situation. Wonder if one of the Moderators could do it for me.

Sorry,
Izzy x

As Faith said, we understood what you meant, but altered it for you anyhow.

[Denise]

Yes Izzy we're in exactly the same boat, if we get an NFA I will help him fight to get his record clean again , always know I'm thinking of you and your son xx

[Izzy]

Thanks everyone.
At the beginning I was advised by someone who used to have a law background, there was no way this would show up if it didn't go any further and there was nothing to worry about, maybe they didn't know or were trying to make us feel better, I don't know. Was just a bit of a shock to discover the truth.
Anyway am going to try and stop dwelling.

Faith you explained it really good, thanks and thanks to you to Casehardened for editing my post and I'm glad you knew what I meant.

Denise, I kept comming on here yesterday to see if you had heard and know you are still waiting, you are both very much in my thoughts to.

Izzy xx