Hello again from Oz,
It has been a while since i have last posted but i thought i would pop back and share our good news.
After 2 years 6months and 1 week our nightmare is finally over. Not guilty on all 3 counts.
I would like to send a big thank you to everyone that has provided me with support and advice during this time, and it is great to see more not guilty verdicts popping up. I once remember the words of a mother on here "we are in this to win", i have kept these words in my head the last few months
For the families and men new to this - this journey has been like having a loved one diagnosised with cancer and waiting until that very last test to find out that you are in the all clear.
Both my husband and daughter have been suicidal during the last 2 1/2 years and thank god we had the strenght to pull through. As a family we are much stronger.
For My fellow Aussies that may find this site - here is a run down on what a trial is like in Australia
Firstly - we have no legal aid assistance, so our legal fees have been approx $100000 AU
After the commital hearing, it can take up to 12 months before your trial is held. Our trial was held early due the FA being a minor at the time of complaint.
Our trial went for approx 5 days with out deliberation
Day 1 - appointment of judge and legal arguements.
Day 2 - pre-recording evidence from FA, then cross examination
Day 3 - Jury selection, openings, video recordings from FA and the defendant played
Day 4- Witnesses
Day 5 - Closing statements
My husband never had to give evidence, as our legal team decided that his recorded interviews were enough. Luckily for us our judge could see from day 1, what a liar the FA was, and even dropped one of the charges during the proceedings, and one more than one occasion during the FA cross examination, had stern words with FA due her "not recalling" what happpened.
Jury deliberation was around 5 hrs in total, and the most stressful time of our lives.
I had carefully selected family and friends to sit in the court room each day, to show the jury he had loads of support., and each day i increased the amount of people until the courtroom was almost full.
The FA did not have one person in the courtroom, not even to check how things were going. I even know that she caught a train by herself again without a support person or family during her cross examination.
Once again, thank you everyone. And Mods if there are any Aussies that are looking for advice or legal team recommendations, i am happy for you to send them my way.
xxxx
It has been a while since i have last posted but i thought i would pop back and share our good news.
After 2 years 6months and 1 week our nightmare is finally over. Not guilty on all 3 counts.
I would like to send a big thank you to everyone that has provided me with support and advice during this time, and it is great to see more not guilty verdicts popping up. I once remember the words of a mother on here "we are in this to win", i have kept these words in my head the last few months
For the families and men new to this - this journey has been like having a loved one diagnosised with cancer and waiting until that very last test to find out that you are in the all clear.
Both my husband and daughter have been suicidal during the last 2 1/2 years and thank god we had the strenght to pull through. As a family we are much stronger.
For My fellow Aussies that may find this site - here is a run down on what a trial is like in Australia
Firstly - we have no legal aid assistance, so our legal fees have been approx $100000 AU
After the commital hearing, it can take up to 12 months before your trial is held. Our trial was held early due the FA being a minor at the time of complaint.
Our trial went for approx 5 days with out deliberation
Day 1 - appointment of judge and legal arguements.
Day 2 - pre-recording evidence from FA, then cross examination
Day 3 - Jury selection, openings, video recordings from FA and the defendant played
Day 4- Witnesses
Day 5 - Closing statements
My husband never had to give evidence, as our legal team decided that his recorded interviews were enough. Luckily for us our judge could see from day 1, what a liar the FA was, and even dropped one of the charges during the proceedings, and one more than one occasion during the FA cross examination, had stern words with FA due her "not recalling" what happpened.
Jury deliberation was around 5 hrs in total, and the most stressful time of our lives.
I had carefully selected family and friends to sit in the court room each day, to show the jury he had loads of support., and each day i increased the amount of people until the courtroom was almost full.
The FA did not have one person in the courtroom, not even to check how things were going. I even know that she caught a train by herself again without a support person or family during her cross examination.
Once again, thank you everyone. And Mods if there are any Aussies that are looking for advice or legal team recommendations, i am happy for you to send them my way.
xxxx
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