wife of accused

[witsend]

Goldfish
Obviously it's no good your husband taking valium during the day due to his work and as another person has suggested maybe he should return to his GP and discuss this. Please look after yourself as well and keep coming back here.

[LS]

The fact he does a manual job is probably a good thing as there is less time to think.

Not necessarily. I have found the opposite - while doing something such as manual tasks, the body does the task on autopilot, leaving the mind to ruminate and keep going over things.
I haven't found a way around this yet. Doing things which occupy the mind - and stop the ruminating - don't fill the day.

[Rights Fighter]

LS you really should have been at M o J day. It was brilliant and I KNOW you would have been inspired. It might have helped you too to see so many people there.

Barry George and Sion Jenkins were there too.

Hope the ears are getting better! x

[largactyl1]

Not necessarily. I have found the opposite - while doing something such as manual tasks, the body does the task on autopilot, leaving the mind to ruminate and keep going over things.
I haven't found a way around this yet. Doing things which occupy the mind - and stop the ruminating - don't fill the day.

Yes, I see what you mean about that. At the end of the day it's a horrible situation and I guess people have to try and muddle through as best they can, getting as much help as possible - whether from family, friends or services for people made ill by the pressure. And also coming on here to find things out and vent.

[goldfish]

Advice needed please. We are having a difficult time. The CPS have offered my husband a reduced charge of sexual assault if he pleads guilty now. He is in a complete state of turmoil as he wants this ordeal to be over as soon as possible but we know his accusers police statement is a complete set of lies and proving it in a possible trial is being hit by constant rules and regulations. he doesn't know what to do for the best.

[Saffron]

As far as I know, Plod and CPS will sometimes offer a reduced charge in return for a Guilty plea if they suspect that their case is weak and likely to result in a Not Guilty verdict. As far as they are concerned, any conviction is better than none!

I would urge your husband not to accept this offer. He is Not Guilty! Have your spoken to the sol, and if so, what did they say?

Keep strong. It sounds to me as though the CPS recognise that they are unlikely to get the verdict they want at a full trial, so are offering this plea bargain in order to gain a conviction of any kind.

[goldfish]

The law in Scotland has just recently changed. Suspects at a police station now have the right to talk to or have a solicitor present from their first interview. All pending cases are entitled to have their police interview thrown out which has happened in my husband's case. We have just been given this plea offer through his advocate who never seems to commit himself to forming any opinions. His solicitor sits in on these meetings but we havn't had a chance to speak in depth about what this means. Time always seems to run out and I feel we are always left dangling. Our next meeting is a week away and we have only been given a week to ten days to consider this.

[Rights Fighter]

If he admits guilt then he will never have a chance to appeal the conviction, should he be convicted.

The son of one of my group members was urged to plead guilty, telling him he would be found guilty anyway. The lad refused and he was found NOT guilty.

I know people who have taken plea bargains and then have had SS on their tail forever afterwards because they have admitted guilt - regardless of whether they have committed the offence or not.

[Casehardened]

Hi Goldfish,

I really don't want to give advice as I don't know enough about the legal system in Scotland to do so but, based on what you have said my instincts are asking:

(a) The woman accused your husband of rape; is she now saying that he only 'sexually assaulted' her?

(b) If the original police interview is now nul and void; doesn't this reset the clock and he needs to have a fresh interview with a revised statement, possibly with a fresh solicitor?

As Saffron says, this plea offer suggests that the prosecution have found themselves in a hole!

[witsend]

Hi goldfish
Ditto all the previous threads!!!!! you and yours are in my thoughts

[largactyl1]

Hi Goldfish, it just goes against the grain to think of someone admitting to something that they haven't done. That's not justice - I understand it must be tempting just to get an end to this nightmare - but in the long-term it won't help anyone's state of mind - or legal status - having a criminal record. That's what I think.
Very best wishes to you
Jen x

[LS]

Hi Goldfish


Not knowing anything about Scottish law I cannot comment either. However, I would strongly urge your partner NOT to plead guilty if he is actually innocent.

As RF said, once you plead guilty you can never undo it. Hubby would never be able to appeal the conviction, even if she ever admitted she lied or was later found guilty.
Even if he told the truth but is found guilty he can at least hold his head high knowing that he was honest in court and to himself.

I can tell you that yes it is mental torment to be found guilty of something you didn't do, but it would be far worse anguish to admit to something he didn't do just to get a reduced sentence.

[goldfish]

Update

Thank you all for the earlier comments. I wanted to let you all know that my husband has not agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge. We had a couple of low days after him being offered this, we could hardly sleep or think straight.

Fortunatly more information has come out in my husbands favour and even though he is still going through the preliminary hearing stage, things are looking more positive for him.

[RFLH]

That's good news goldfish - I'm not surprised you're both feeling low - its a **** system that tries to make you admit to something you haven't done - just to avoid a lengthy sentence for something you haven't done......

[Saffron]

I'm so pleased to hear this. I hope the new information turns into the result you want.