In a quandry
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Having spent nearly all my life savings £10,000 to engage a specialist solicitors to try to get young relatives case withdrawn from court and back a Police caution,which wasn't acheived, we are now told it will cost a further £10,000 to represent him at his sentencing. This would mean taking out a loan and using the money saved for his siblings.
Does anyone think having a specialist solicitor has made a difference to sentencing. Relative was 17 at the time of offence, the knock came when he was 18. The offence was on a chatsite and after a two year wait for his phone to be analysed 32 photos were found which included all three categories of photos.
We have no idea what happens at sentencing, do they listening to mitigating circumstances, such as mental health etc or would a Duty solicitor be just as good, get the same sentence?
In the two years we have waited he has tried to commit suicide, self harms and now has an eating disorder. Which is why we at a very late stage hearing it was going to court engaged the solicitor and although they failed to get it stopped going to court the fact they went and chatted with him for over two hours and didn't judge him, we feel it got him to face the thought oof having to attend instead of trying to take his life again.
Now we are faced with what to do for the best, will spending the extra money help or not or are we just throwing money away.
Does anyone think having a specialist solicitor has made a difference to sentencing. Relative was 17 at the time of offence, the knock came when he was 18. The offence was on a chatsite and after a two year wait for his phone to be analysed 32 photos were found which included all three categories of photos.
We have no idea what happens at sentencing, do they listening to mitigating circumstances, such as mental health etc or would a Duty solicitor be just as good, get the same sentence?
In the two years we have waited he has tried to commit suicide, self harms and now has an eating disorder. Which is why we at a very late stage hearing it was going to court engaged the solicitor and although they failed to get it stopped going to court the fact they went and chatted with him for over two hours and didn't judge him, we feel it got him to face the thought oof having to attend instead of trying to take his life again.
Now we are faced with what to do for the best, will spending the extra money help or not or are we just throwing money away.
For a sentencing hearing only that is quite high. Most high street criminal lawyers can handle a sentencing. The process is the same for everybody really. They will try to portray the person as a good character, present mitigation and try to get the lowest possible sentence.
Hi, what amazing generosity. I can not offer any advice only that my person was represented at the very early stages by a duty solicitor, covered by Legal Aid. When we were informed the case was being prepared for crown court and a plea, it transferred to a barrister, same company of solicitors. I suggest you check as we were informed a duty solicitor can only fulfil certain roles before the case moves to a barrister to complete representation. Their guidance was invaluable. Ensured we were aware of the risks associated of a not guilty plea and the chances of this being the outcome. Not a specialist, just a very good individual. I don't believe any amount of money would change our outcome. We have submitted our character statements to support the barrister and mitigation. A legal process has been followed and we have faith in this and the barrister.
Good Luck x
Good Luck x