Family and Friends Forum

Hi everyone, hope everyone is coping,

My partner got the knock over 2 and half years ago and the other day he went for his plea hearing at crown ( possession of of iioc all cats but most in cat c). I went with him and sat in the court room. It was the most horrific experience since the knock. The judge was a recorder and she had to refer to the sentence guidelines on her screen. All she kept saying was my partner should expect a lengthy custodial. It even looked at one point like she was either gonna sentence him that day or remand him! I mean how ridiculous to remand when he’s been at home waiting for over 2.5 years getting on with life but with this horrible limbo over us. In the end she adjourned for a PSR.I’ve read many cases in the paper of men with 100s of thousands of iioc and they got suspended sentences. It’s really got to me what she said, I can’t get it out of my head. She did say she wouldn’t be the judge at sentencing and her comments would have no influence on that judge. I know we all say it’s down to the judge on the day but now I’m just really thinking the worst

Thank you love. Yeah that's just it isn't it. My life and his life can be devasted by the decision of one judge. I've always thought that actually it shouldn't be decided by one judge and should be a panel ( I know it's different in a case with a jury). I'm in such a panick about him going to prison. We both work but he earns a lot more than me. We have a mortgage to pay, bills, credit card etc etc. I have no idea how I'll cope with all that if he gets a custodial!