Witness citation
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Discussion

BMR

Original Poster:

962 posts

207 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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My OH has just received a citation to attend court as a witness in July 2 days before our wedding.

It’s for something that happened at her work - probably a theft - she works in a supermarket.

She’s phoned them up to explain and was told tough, we can give you the day of your wedding off as an excuse, but nothing before hand.

Surely there’s a bit of leeway, weddings don’t just happen and I can imagine it’ll be busy a few days before hand ensuring everything is ready to go.

Edited by BMR on Monday 12th April 10:49

CarlosFandango11

1,992 posts

215 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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BMR said:
My OH has just received a citation to attend court as a witness in July 2 days before our wedding.

It’s for something that happened at her work - probably a theft - she works in a supermarket.

She’s phoned them up to explain and was told tough, we can give you the day of your wedding off as an excuse, but nothing before hand.

Surely there’s a bit of leeway, weddings don’t just happen and I can imagine it’ll be busy a few days before hand ensuring everything is ready to go.
You need to explain what you’re on about.

It sounds like your OH has just phoned up her work to ask for time off for your wedding but has only been given one day off. What did she have to explain? Why didn’t she ask for time off sooner for your wedding? And what’s the court case got to do with this?

Edited by CarlosFandango11 on Monday 12th April 10:42

BMR

Original Poster:

962 posts

207 months

Monday 12th April 2021
quotequote all
Sorry I thought I did

Someone has stolen from her work

Police have been called. Taken details. She’s a witness.

We have our holidays booked for our wedding.

Today she has received a citation to attend court as a witness. Two days before our wedding

She phoned the court to be told tough. You must attend.

She has to email them to explain about our wedding day. That can be excused

My point is can’t there be a bit of leeway regarding the days before.

Last thing we need is her tied up for the days before the wedding.

davek_964

11,248 posts

204 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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CarlosFandango11 said:
You need to explain what you’re on about.

It sounds like your OH has just phoned up her work to ask for time off for your wedding but has only been given one day off. What did she have to explain? Why didn’t she ask for time off sooner for your wedding? And what’s the court case got to do with this?

Edited by CarlosFandango11 on Monday 12th April 10:42
I would assume that the phone call was about the court date and trying to avoid attending that so close to the wedding, not trying to book annual leave......

quinny100

1,013 posts

215 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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I'm not sure what you're looking for here.

The court have said they don't deem a wedding 2 days later sufficient grounds to reschedule a trial. Doesn't seem particularly unreasonable to me.

If it's a simple shoplifting chances are she'll be in and out in an hour or two, or the defendant could plead guilty and she won't be called.

The other option is to get in touch the with the Police Officer who dealt with it and ask them to talk to the CPS about whether they would excuse her as a witness, but there's always the chance the defence might want to cross-examine her. The Police Officer could just read her statement out as evidence, if they have other evidence eg. CCTV then it may not really make any difference to the outcome of the case but if she's the only eye witness then it's understandable they would want her to attend.

davek_964

11,248 posts

204 months

Monday 12th April 2021
quotequote all
quinny100 said:
If it's a simple shoplifting chances are she'll be in and out in an hour or two
From the one time I attended court (about 3 years ago) I doubt that.

More likely, she'll be told to attend the court from first thing in the morning, and the case might be heard first thing, or it might be heard much later in the day.

mcflurry

9,189 posts

282 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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From their perspective, if they rearrange for 2 days, the next person could ask for 3.
Where would they realistically draw the line?


NMNeil

5,860 posts

79 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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Tell the clerk of the court that you know the accused. You'll be out of there in seconds. biggrin

Chris32345

2,141 posts

91 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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Why would expect anythtmore then the day of your wedding off for this?

2 days before the wedding virtually everything should allready be arranged

BopoWarls

137 posts

113 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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Unlike others on here, I completely understand that your OH doesn't want to attend court 2 days before your big day. I recently got married and it's the last thing I would have wanted to do, let alone my wife. Our wedding was planned a few years in advance but there was lots to do in the few days leading up to the wedding. Unfortunate. I hope you have a lovely wedding.

steveo3002

11,201 posts

203 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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whats the penalty for a no show?

IJWS15

2,207 posts

114 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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Her employer may not be too happy if she doesn't show up.

When I have been a witness in criminal cases I have always been asked to tell them dates I wasn't available some time in advance of the case (both motoring and large fraud/theft trial) - Was she asked and did she respond? Did she just give them the wedding/holiday dates? If so what did she expect?

martinbiz

3,698 posts

174 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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IJWS15 said:
Her employer may not be too happy if she doesn't show up.

When I have been a witness in criminal cases I have always been asked to tell them dates I wasn't available some time in advance of the case (both motoring and large fraud/theft trial) - Was she asked and did she respond? Did she just give them the wedding/holiday dates? If so what did she expect?
The OP has not even mentioned the employer, what's that got to do with it?

98elise

32,558 posts

190 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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BopoWarls said:
Unlike others on here, I completely understand that your OH doesn't want to attend court 2 days before your big day. I recently got married and it's the last thing I would have wanted to do, let alone my wife. Our wedding was planned a few years in advance but there was lots to do in the few days leading up to the wedding. Unfortunate. I hope you have a lovely wedding.
I would agree. I'm not married but have been involved in enough weddings to know the lead up can be very busy/stressful.


Scabutz

8,832 posts

109 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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steveo3002 said:
whats the penalty for a no show?
Warrant issued for your arrest

megaphone

11,653 posts

280 months

Monday 12th April 2021
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Better off not getting married.

Greendubber

15,262 posts

232 months

Tuesday 13th April 2021
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martinbiz said:
IJWS15 said:
Her employer may not be too happy if she doesn't show up.

When I have been a witness in criminal cases I have always been asked to tell them dates I wasn't available some time in advance of the case (both motoring and large fraud/theft trial) - Was she asked and did she respond? Did she just give them the wedding/holiday dates? If so what did she expect?
The OP has not even mentioned the employer, what's that got to do with it?
Nothing, but when she was giving her statement to the police they should have asked any dates she isn't available. There's a box on the back of the form especially for it.

ReverendCounter

6,087 posts

205 months

Tuesday 13th April 2021
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megaphone said:
Better off not getting married.
Yep, OP's OH is going to end up in a courtroom at some point hehe


JEEZ, IT WAS A JOKE!! - just kidding OP, hope you have an amazing day and a lovely life together.

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

289 months

Tuesday 13th April 2021
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Call the dr about the bad cough she's just developed but on a more serious note just agree to go to court. Chances are that the trial won't happen or it'll be all over once the defence know she's attended and is willing to give evidence.

Jamescrs

6,380 posts

94 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
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The courts aren't going to be bothered she is getting married two days later to be blunt about it. It is possible the defence are calling her as a witness because it is a common defence tactic to call all the witnesses and wait to see if they attend court before entering a guilty plea.

As someone above said though if she doesn't attend and the Judge is having a bad day they may issue a warrant for her arrest, you don't want that to happen.