Feeling victimised!

[Mr & Mrs]

Hi have just come across the site and am amazed at the amount of people that are going through or been through the same experience as my fiancee and I.
My fiancee has been wrongly charged with sexual assault on a pupil of his when he was a driving instuctor. We are at the Crown Court for the preliminary hearing on the 11th September. We have beeen unhappy with our solicitor during our visits to the magistrates and wondered if anyone had any advice on if its too late to change our legal representation?
We are both really scared, as we realise that the judicial system is a joke and that the fact that you are innocent does not mean that a jury will find you innocent.
These girls need serious help! Our lives have beeen turned upside down. My fiancee is unable to work due to deppresion and our plans to marry in January in the caribean have had to be cancelled.
I thought that you had to have evidence to convict someone of a crime, shows you how little I know! I still can't believe this is happening, we can not defend ourselves as it our word against theirs. Any words of ecouragement much appreciated.
ps My fiancee is black, has anyone felt that they have faced prejudise with the police

[Saffron]

Hi there.

I really feel for you, and I know exactly what you are going through.

It is definitely not too late to change your solicitor. Contact FASO (i can't remember the web address, but google it and you will find it) and they will give you a list of solicitors in your area who specialise in sex crimes. This is really important. The rest of your lives hang on a "not Guilty" verdict. I know that sounds dramatic, and I don't want to scare you, but this is really serious. We were so confident that the jury would see sense, but unfortunately they didn't.

We were unhappy with our representation throughout, but foolishly we didn't complain.

you are absolutely right about the judicial system. No proof is required for a case like this - the jury are simply asked to decide who they believe. the girl cowering behind the screen, or the man in the dock? shocking isn't it? At my husband's trial, 2 of the jurors fell asleep while the judge was summing up.

As for racial predjudice - the police force is rife with it. Having said that, my husband is white, and they treated him like an animal from start to finish.

Good luck. let me know if there is anything I can do.

[Survivor]

Regarding the solicitors I to was unhappy with mine but at the end of the day its 95% what the Barrister says and does that counted at my trial. I suggest a female barrister as she described my false accuser/wifes actions as ludicrous and not what a women would do that won over the dreaded female jurors and my wife was shown to be a liar which meant it was a no brainer not guilty verdict.

Send my heart felt encouragement and sympathy to your fiancee, he is going through dark times and and when he looks back on this sorry episode he will never forget your support.

[Mr & Mrs]

Thankyou for your reply. I wonder if you could let me know who your barrister was? We are meeting with a barrister next week for the first time but have decided that if we are unhappy with them, we will rquest a change. We are meeting with a gentleman but you are not the first person to suggest a women for a caes like this. I'm so glad things worked out for you!!

[Survivor]

Hope Im not to late,

I am from south wales so I guess you cant select a barrister from a different area unless you pay for it! Mine was Tracey Lloyd Nesling (see link) and she saved my life! She is amazing, my 1st barister pulled out 6 weeks before as he had holidays booked! We then where recommended Tracey, she is excellent and was very personable.

What made her good was she was able to stand there and tell a story in such a way that everyone was on the edgge of their seats and you couldnt help but nod your head.

I was fortunate bump into the 12 members of the jury in JD Wetherspoons after the trial and had a great chat with them all. They all made a point of saying how my barrister was excellent and had I paid for her etc etc.

I had 7 women on my jury and one of them said what did you think when 7 women were chosen, so it clearly is an issue especially if there is a women who has experienced or been close to a real rape/ crime.

I also had a female solicitor and I think it gives the impression that if women are happy to represent him then they must believe and trust him. The jury is always said to be 50-50 you can never call it. The female barrister makes it 45-55 in your favour.

Good luck with your barrister, they are not barristers for nothing and should all be to a certain level, the best you pay for the others will be above and below average, make sure yours specializes or can back up how good he is by telling you about his past experience of sexual assault cases

http://www.30parkplace.com/

[Rights Fighter]

S Wales barrister link

Hi Survivor

Thanks for the link to the Chambers in Cardiff.

I've been supporting several guys from South Wales, all of them either still inside or been released and still trying to clear their names.

Some barristers are great at trial but hopefull at appeal and vice versa. some barristers are hopeless full stop and are in the business to earn a living rather than as a vocation.

Good to see Saffron back online. Don't forget to come and see us at the PAFAA forum http://p068.ezboard.com/bpafaaforum

You might need to visit the site first www.pafaa.org.uk or www.sofap.org.uk (same site) in order to join.

Kind regards

RF