Magistrates next Tuesday :/

[Innocentguy1983]

Hi guys

Hope all is well.

Just to update, I got Magistrates this Tuesday.

Go Enter my plea and hopefully find out some information.

I have been coping , one step at a time and all that.

I haven't told work, and I'm not looking forward to going in after Tuesday, you don't know if it is going to be all in the press..

I have this feeling I'll be caught off guard..

Oh well.. Wish me luck and I will update you all Wednesday

Much love IG

[can it get worse]

Hi IG,

Thank you for your update. Hope you are feeling slightly better. You should start to receive copies of any statements soon after that which will help you start building your defence and highlight any discrepancies.

The magistrates court is a quick appearance. Although it is the unexpected as we have never ever been in any sort of trouble before, it was over and done with very quickly.

Sending you best wishes.

[whatsgoingon?]

Good luck
Is there anyone who can go with you and have a coffee/drink with you afterwards?

[Innocentguy1983]

Good luck
Is there anyone who can go with you and have a coffee/drink with you afterwards?

Don't laugh... But my mummy is coming haha.. And of course my darling wife.

I have never been in a court before, that's the daunting part and of course any media coverage..

Thanks for the support guys

[whatsgoingon?]

How did you get on today? I'm not laughing about your mum going at all.... I went to Crown Court for my own son - tell her and your 'darling wife' -well done from me. The more genuine support you have the better - don't underestimate it. There are some people who would never tell either parent, some young people go through the whole process including the trial all alone because they don't feel they can speak to their parents or loved ones. Having the kind of relationship which makes communicating good and bad news tothose close to you possible is a tremendous asset.

I hope it wasn't too disturbing for you all. It's from this moment on that you realise it's for real, but at least you should be getting the evidence through and you can see exactly what is being said about you and how you can fight it.

[Innocentguy1983]

How did you get on today? I'm not laughing about your mum going at all.... I went to Crown Court for my own son - tell her and your 'darling wife' -well done from me. The more genuine support you have the better - don't underestimate it. There are some people who would never tell either parent, some young people go through the whole process including the trial all alone because they don't feel they can speak to their parents or loved ones. Having the kind of relationship which makes communicating good and bad news tothose close to you possible is a tremendous asset.

I hope it wasn't too disturbing for you all. It's from this moment on that you realise it's for real, but at least you should be getting the evidence through and you can see exactly what is being said about you and how you can fight it.

It's today I go, Feeling nervous... Can't sleep...

However, I haven't taken any medication or turned to drink.. So I'm hanging in there!!!

Not looking forward to any potential press... Touch wood there might not be any or minimal..

I hate the fact the room will be filled with strangers judging you... Grrrr...

Will let you all know how it went later!

[Casehardened]

Very best wishes for today!!!

[frightened spouse]

Thinking of you today

[RFLH]

hope all goes well.

[Innocentguy1983]

Hi guys back at home now...

Well, where to start.

I initially met with my solicitor whom only got the evidence pack yesterday evening at around 4.30pm. We went through the statement summaries to obviously engage in to what my plea was going to be. For those that don't know, I have admitted to some experimenting when I was around 11 years old. My solicitor said it may be construed that kissing a penis could be gross indecency.... However just by glancing through the summary statement you could pick holes in it. There are no witnesses at the time of the alleged charges, however there are witnesses to where she has apparently confined to her ex girlfriend and current girlfriend over the past few years...(that's right, the fa is a lesbian) Wether these will be admissible is another matter as these witnesses are only re-iterating what the victim has said...

She said that I made her watch pornography when I was 11-12 and that she told a family friend who reported it to her mother, who in turn told my mother. I apparently lied and said it wasn't true and the matter was forgotten... After this though event (over the next months and years), the mother still let the fa round my house and I still I continued to show her porn and get her to perform oral on me and I would frequently attempt to penetrate her, but she said ow... And I stopped... My solicitor looked at me and said well done for stopping old boy...we had a Little chuckle... He found it hard to believe that she could tell someone I showed her porn, but not that I performed sexual acts on her...also, I have four charges against me, the way the statement reads it was something I would do every day after tea!!! Why is there not so many more..? And just to be clear there is no charges that relate to me showing pornography to anyone.

Lastly, to add salt to injury the summary statement said that I confirmed that I gave her sweets to committing the acts!!!! Which is something I didn't say in my interview!!!

Soo....My solicitor advised me that if I was to enter a plea of guilty I would get a 33% reduction in sentence, however he advised to enter a no plea at this point as the sentencing for the preliminary goes to 30%, so I have lost 3.3%, if I am to say I am guilty... I have shot my self in the foot for admitting things to the police...Word of advice Never tell the police anything!!!!!! I am in this mess because of it!!!

My solicitor is now in cohoots with an expert barrister in this topic area, so that they can strongly advise on my next course of action. My solicitor believes I do have a chance of winning this case, and he can see wholes where there is doubt.

Soo, moving on to the magistrate experience.... You see all sorts here, it wasn't a pleasant place.. Quick though....

I was in the court room for about 15 minutes max.. I confirmed my name address and my solicitor gave my plea.. Confirmed I understood my bail conditions and I was ushered on..

It happened so quick, it was a blur... But I feel better, as the anticipation to it was horrid....

Now... For some reason the prosecutor from the cps requested a press restriction... Why I don't know... But heck I'm not complaining at the moment.. I don't know how long this is for, maybe until I next go to crown court...maybe it's because we were both children at the time?

So.. That leads me to the next visit... To the crown court... I believe it is for the preliminary... Which is on November the 11th...

Anyway.... Enough from me for the moment... I'm knackered...

IG

[Innocentguy1983]

Just to add the cps prosecutor said it was a s39 reporting restriction.

I think it's the following..

Children and young persons act 1933, a court may direct that the media cannot identify an under 18 concerned in the proceedings as a victim,witness or statement.

Though I'm 30 now and the fa is 24...

It's all confusing!

[Casehardened]

It's shocking that your solicitor only had disclosure the afternoon before the plea hearing; on the other hand if you both can pick holes in her statement after such a cursory look, how much more will you get when you have had the chance to think it through thoroughly.

I'm pleased about the reporting restrictions as I know you were worried about the press getting hold of the details

[frightened spouse]

Hi IG

Glad you got through today, CPS don't sound very organised

Whatever the reason you must be really pleased about the reporting restrictions, one less thing to worry about and not being in the position where you need to tell work.

Hope you can have a bit of relaxation time now that hurdle is over before the next battle.

Best wishes

FS

[Innocentguy1983]

It's shocking that your solicitor only had disclosure the afternoon before the plea hearing; on the other hand if you both can pick holes in her statement after such a cursory look, how much more will you get when you have had the chance to think it through thoroughly.

I'm pleased about the reporting restrictions as I know you were worried about the press getting hold of the details

Hi CH

How's it going?

My solicitor said it's quite common regarding the disclosure of information. The cps are heavily overloaded and are notorious for this.

Yeah the restriction was interesting... I don't know how long it will last mind you.. And to be honest they wouldn't of done it for my benefit...

The next step now is to go over things with the barrister and decide if what I have admitted to is enough to dig my own grave...or do I have a realistic prospect of an acquittal..

My wife is quite worried about me as I'm coming across quite low and I haven't got much fight in me... I won't lie... I don't feel like I got much in me at the moment...

Need to pick my ass up and be strong!

[lawlessone2009]

Hi CH

How's it going?

My solicitor said it's quite common regarding the disclosure of information. The cps are heavily overloaded and are notorious for this.

Yeah the restriction was interesting... I don't know how long it will last mind you.. And to be honest they wouldn't of done it for my benefit...

The next step now is to go over things with the barrister and decide if what I have admitted to is enough to dig my own grave...or do I have a realistic prospect of an acquittal..

My wife is quite worried about me as I'm coming across quite low and I haven't got much fight in me... I won't lie... I don't feel like I got much in me at the moment...

Need to pick my ass up and be strong!

Wow........ Things are sounding POSITIVE!

Keep that head of yours held high!

Coming across low and without much fight. REMEMBER, they need to prove your guilt, you do not need to prove innocence.

You don't even need to take the stand!

It sounds as if your legal eagle is more than on the ball. Fantastic!

I'm keeping everything crossed for you but I have to say you're in a good position at the moment and should cast a little of your doubt to the wind and relax just that little tiny wee bit, crack a bottle of wine and sit have a giggle with the missus.