Crown Court adjourned - do I go next time?
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My husband's sentencing was supposed to be last week. Me and some of my family and his family went all the way there. The hearing got adjourned because the prosecuter didn't have the pre-sentencing report and some other important info and was also only told last minute about the case. She wasn't prepared and it was so disorganised!! I'm so angry it got cancelled. A lot of people took the day off work and travelled a long way to be there and there's a massive emotional build up to Crown Court. I know it's going to be one of the worst days of my life. Now we have to go through it all again. They don't care about what this is like for the families.
The little that I did see and hear in court was traumatic. My husband was in a glass box with a guard on either side of him. The prosecuter told the Court one of the worst things my husband had done/viewed online. No sugar coating it, she just said it as a fact. I already knew it, but I still found it shocking. There's something very different about it being said out loud to a court room for all to hear. I winced, knowing his siblings were hearing it for the first time. The horror on their faces. A random woman was sitting in the gallery and I wanted her to get out. It's nothing to do with her..... but members of the public can go in. I really didn't like that. At least there was no press.
Those of you who went to Crown Court, do you regret it? Was it very traumatic? His sentencing was rescheduled for 3 week time and I'm not sure I can face it. I haven't seen or spoken to my husband for a long time and we aren't on good terms. It's been over a year since the knock and he's still in denial, still justifying some of what he did, still lying and denying parts of it (even parts which he previously admitted to). He lies so much that he can't remember what he's admitted to before. His story changes constantly. I know the truth from the police, thank goodness. My husband hasn't taken any responsibility whatsoever. His attitude to it all is awful and makes everyone who knows the situation so angry, as what he's done is serious. But at court, he looked so sad, so pitiful, so scared. It was awful. I'm not sure I can cope with watching him be ripped apart by a prosecuter and then possibly sent straight off to prison. But I feel like this is the conclusion we have building towards for over a year and I want to see it happen. Any advice on whether to go to Crown Court or not? How graphic is the detail they go into when it comes to the images?
The little that I did see and hear in court was traumatic. My husband was in a glass box with a guard on either side of him. The prosecuter told the Court one of the worst things my husband had done/viewed online. No sugar coating it, she just said it as a fact. I already knew it, but I still found it shocking. There's something very different about it being said out loud to a court room for all to hear. I winced, knowing his siblings were hearing it for the first time. The horror on their faces. A random woman was sitting in the gallery and I wanted her to get out. It's nothing to do with her..... but members of the public can go in. I really didn't like that. At least there was no press.
Those of you who went to Crown Court, do you regret it? Was it very traumatic? His sentencing was rescheduled for 3 week time and I'm not sure I can face it. I haven't seen or spoken to my husband for a long time and we aren't on good terms. It's been over a year since the knock and he's still in denial, still justifying some of what he did, still lying and denying parts of it (even parts which he previously admitted to). He lies so much that he can't remember what he's admitted to before. His story changes constantly. I know the truth from the police, thank goodness. My husband hasn't taken any responsibility whatsoever. His attitude to it all is awful and makes everyone who knows the situation so angry, as what he's done is serious. But at court, he looked so sad, so pitiful, so scared. It was awful. I'm not sure I can cope with watching him be ripped apart by a prosecuter and then possibly sent straight off to prison. But I feel like this is the conclusion we have building towards for over a year and I want to see it happen. Any advice on whether to go to Crown Court or not? How graphic is the detail they go into when it comes to the images?
Mines was magistrates and there was no graphic detail at all literally just category and number of images, I am glad I went but underestimated how I would feel after it due to public in court I feel like I am back to the big sign on my head what my oh has done
Hi Devastated - like most things on this journey you will not be wrong if you decide 'not' to go to court or to attend.
My sons case was on video link at court, I couldn't bear to watch him be destroyed, I knew enough detail of what he'd done, I really would not have coped with his humiliation and slaughter. A good man that had gone down an horrendous path, everyone there viewing him as a P - as a monster. Perhaps some would say hiding away, perhaps they'd be right.....
I think you have to think about yourself too. It obviously had a massive impact on you mentally and physically with all the practicality of attending.
Ill just emphasise there is nothing wrong if you decide not to attend. You dont HAVE to be there and at times I feel you just have to be a tad selfish to take care and think about yourself.
My sons case was on video link at court, I couldn't bear to watch him be destroyed, I knew enough detail of what he'd done, I really would not have coped with his humiliation and slaughter. A good man that had gone down an horrendous path, everyone there viewing him as a P - as a monster. Perhaps some would say hiding away, perhaps they'd be right.....
I think you have to think about yourself too. It obviously had a massive impact on you mentally and physically with all the practicality of attending.
Ill just emphasise there is nothing wrong if you decide not to attend. You dont HAVE to be there and at times I feel you just have to be a tad selfish to take care and think about yourself.
There really is no right or wrong answer. Although I really didn't want to go to crown I did as I felt I needed to be there for my son. It was horrendous hearing what the prosecution said, but then that's their job to make it sound has bad as they can. They didn't go into great detail of the images so don't worry about that. I'm glad my son had been honest with me so wasn't a shock to me. I also feel if I'd been sat at home on my own all day that would have been worse for me at least I was with him right up to the last minute then I also had the rest of our family with me for support. Also for future reference you can check the court reports for the following day so if it was to be cancelled again for whatever reason you would know the night before. It was only by checking this we found out my sons was originally cancelled due to the PSR not been done in time.
Also hang on to the fact that you are very near the end now. So although Crown can be stressful it's the last stage in this horrible journey. Xx
Also hang on to the fact that you are very near the end now. So although Crown can be stressful it's the last stage in this horrible journey. Xx
I was really hoping that my son didn't want me to attend but he wanted me there for support so I went. I don't regret going but I also don't think I'd have regretted not going if that was his choice. I found the exoerience very traumatic and something which I'll never forget.
You need to do whatever feels right for you.
You need to do whatever feels right for you.