What should happen before a plea?
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My person has to appear at court soon. He's been given his charges but so nothing from police or the solicitors who apparently still haven't had details through from CPS. I assume this is to hear the charges and enter a plea.
Is it normal to be left in limbo this close to a date? My person needs to know details. Others on the forum have been advised about packing a bag, character references, what his plea will be, any mitigating circumstances etc. Surely all this needs to be discussed and decided/sorted before the day? Or is it just another step in this nightmare where you're just kept hanging by your last anxious thread of sanity?
Is it normal to be left in limbo this close to a date? My person needs to know details. Others on the forum have been advised about packing a bag, character references, what his plea will be, any mitigating circumstances etc. Surely all this needs to be discussed and decided/sorted before the day? Or is it just another step in this nightmare where you're just kept hanging by your last anxious thread of sanity?
Hey, my son is attending court this morning for his plea hearing so I will be able to answer this question for you a little later on. I also asked this similar question a few days ago as we received charges in March and aside from his solicitor asking details regarding legal aid he hasn't so much as answered one question regarding his actual case some lovely ladies commented on my post telling me its normal at plea hearing stage as sometimes solicitors doesn't received police evidence until the day of court... which I think is purposeful on police side. I'm so worried we will turn up at court at his solicitor won't be there due to lack of contact so keeping everything crossed z x
My husband was arrested March last year. He appeared in court the following month. He had no idea what was going on etc. That court hearing was to move from police bail to court bail. It took a year from then (as they had to wait on cyber report) for it to go to court again to enter a plea and he has his final hearing next month.
Not sure if that is of any help
Not sure if that is of any help
Hi I'm guessing court is for plea hearing. My person met his solicitor about 30 mins before he went in. He was pleading guilty to a communication charge. He was given his date for sentencing at crown court. Then because it was a guilty plea he then went to sign on the register. When he attended crown court he took a 'just in case' bag. Thankfully not needed. X
Hi, my persons experience was very similar to Caggie.
Met with the solicitor at the Magistrates court just before going in to plea hearing.
Pleaded guilty and received a date of 4 weeks later for sentencing at Crown court. Had to sign on the SOR within 3 days.
Had a telephone meeting with solicitor about 2 weeks before sentencing.
Had pre sentence report meeting with probation about a week before sentening.
Submitted character references to solicitor about a week before sentencing.
Attended Crown court with 'just in case' bag packed and met with solicitor prior to going in to court for sentencing,
Met with the solicitor at the Magistrates court just before going in to plea hearing.
Pleaded guilty and received a date of 4 weeks later for sentencing at Crown court. Had to sign on the SOR within 3 days.
Had a telephone meeting with solicitor about 2 weeks before sentencing.
Had pre sentence report meeting with probation about a week before sentening.
Submitted character references to solicitor about a week before sentencing.
Attended Crown court with 'just in case' bag packed and met with solicitor prior to going in to court for sentencing,
If anyone has been watching the documentary about barristers on Channel 4, then they will know how chaotic the system is.
Barristers receiving the court paperwork on their phones, on the day of the court hearing, then reading it on the tube, while they travel to the court. Unbelieveable.
The legal system has all kinds of rules around this, but they are routinely ignored. For example the prosecution are supposedly to give the defence a copy of the SHPO at least 48 hours before the sentencing.
That very rarely happens. The first time the defence usually sees the SHPO, is on the day of the hearing, leaving them hardly any time to advise their client. Often the SHPO is so poorly worded, that the judge orders the prosecution to rewrite it. This happened to my son. The good barristers still manage to challenge the SHPO in spite of this, but many unfortunately do not and a lot of it is down to lack of time to prepare.
Barristers receiving the court paperwork on their phones, on the day of the court hearing, then reading it on the tube, while they travel to the court. Unbelieveable.
The legal system has all kinds of rules around this, but they are routinely ignored. For example the prosecution are supposedly to give the defence a copy of the SHPO at least 48 hours before the sentencing.
That very rarely happens. The first time the defence usually sees the SHPO, is on the day of the hearing, leaving them hardly any time to advise their client. Often the SHPO is so poorly worded, that the judge orders the prosecution to rewrite it. This happened to my son. The good barristers still manage to challenge the SHPO in spite of this, but many unfortunately do not and a lot of it is down to lack of time to prepare.