A day in court!

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Curiously enough, I haven't done anything.
I get to be a witness.

About two years ago a bunch of numpties took over our local mail service (out-sourcing, public-private partnership all that stuff).
All was well for about 3 months and then parcels started going missing, letters didn't get delivered etc. etc.
You could always be sure that they were helpful in getting you insurance money, but it caused huge inconvenience and no small amount of bad-feeling if your customer didn't get his/her whatever.
I know of at least two of you who didn't get items I sent.

More than a few complained, and after some foot-dragging by OzPost, they sent in an undercover officer to investigate.
Turns out this mob were just raking it off! They'd use the insurance or origin details on the parcels to estimate which would be worth "loosing" and then selling them off to some other crims.

Six months later and this bunch of (allegedly)thieving toe-rags is about to be tried (hangings to good for 'em!) and I get to put in my $.02. :D
So tomorrow, I'll shower, shave, put on my best 'power' suit and tie and see if I can't help deliver a little 'rough justice' to these (alleged)bum-holes.
Wish me luck!

[Baddad]

Ahhh the good ol' adrenalin rush. It happens as you take the stand or even when asked to say your piece addressing the magistrate/judge.

A good idea is to ask how to address the judge beforehand.
ie Your honour or your worship. It puts you in good standing and adds to your cedibility.

Cheers

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Excellent advice as I was wondering about that.
In Canada and the UK it's "Your Honour" or "Your Lordship"
Here "Your Worship" seems the go, but I will ask.

[OICURMT]

USA = "Your Honor"... note the proper way to spell it... :P

[Astro_Bot]

"Your Worship" in a Magistrate's Court. (I was a witness for a traffic accident).

[DavidU]

Stealing Astro stuff is actually treason isn't it:D
Electric chair !

[bartman]

Luck wished upon you and may you inflict pain on the part of the body that they sit upon:eyepop:
Bartman:D

[FlashDrive]

Love to be a ' fly on the wall ' ... and watch this play out..!!

Well it was like this Your Worship .......

Flash..!!

[sheeny]

Best of luck Peter. Its an experience being a witness, even on the "good" side.

I've been a witness for the state coroner once... what an eye opener!

Al.

[Shark Bait]

I have been involved in a court case as a witness once before. I'd have to say that it was interesting but not an experience that I enjoyed.

Good Luck.

[Larryp]

Ditto!

[Baddad]

I've been in courts more times than most would like to have been.
A bare few for some minor rule infingements. :( Several times as a witness.:)

Judges are very smart. They can develope some bias, after all they are human.:P

My best story happened 16, 17 years ago. I was driving an old car. The old MPH speedo. I finished a job and entered a main suburban road.
I checked my speedo. 40MPH.:)
Radar trap. You are driving in a 40 KPH zone. I tried to excuse myself that I'd been on this road many times. However its been some time since I was last here. I entered this time after the sign (40)
Police officer said you would have seen the sign when you went to the job. 3 hrs ago?

Okay. That was a fail. I admitted that my speedo indicated 40MPH which equates to 62KPH.

He booked me for 62.

I took it to court. I exp;ained to the judge. "Your Honour, I told the police officer that my speedo indicated 40MPH. (62) But there is a speedo error and my actual speed was 35 MPH. I can get proof of this.
The police officer charged me with 62 KPH which would not agree with the radar reading that was obtained."

The judge checked the papers. He asked, " Are you saying that the police officer has lied?"

"Yes" I replied.

He turned to the policeman and said words to the effect of him being inept and unprofessional.
I thought "Whoa! This judge does not like coppers"

Dismissed the charge.

That's briefly what happened. He asked what car I drove etc.

So Pete. Even though the defence may make you feel uncomfortable and try to undermine your evidence the judge is very good and experienced to see this.

I assume this is a 'judge only hearing?' Is it a jury decider?
If its a judge only you'll be made to feel comfortable by the judge.
He will not let the defence get out of hand.

Also the defence already knows what the verdict will be. The evidence is usually weighted heavily in the prosecution's favour. It'll be a formality.

While you are on the stand you will forget various things and they will come to mind afterwards. Don't be too concerned.

I gave evidence of an idiot who tried to burn down a telephone booth. I realised afterwards I neglected to mention important bits.
The idiot was given a custodial sentence. So it did not matter those bits I forgot.

Peter, listen to what the prosecution advises. Address the judge correctly, answer the questions and it will be all over. You will come out wondering why you were so worried. Its not a big deal.

Cheers:)

[Barrykgerdes]

I have been in court for a week on jury duty on a murder case, I was a bit lucky as I had been rejected on a high profile case that went for three weeks. We were dismissed after 5 days but never did find out what happened to the accused.

Barry

[Waxing_Gibbous]

I was called once for jury duty in England.
There was fraud, embezlement, infidilety and murder involved!

I couldn't wait!

Then the accused(es) pled guilty!!!!!!
SOAB!
I was really looking forward to that. :(

[ZeroID]

Witness in a auto accident ( I was following ). Expert witness in 2 business cases involving faxes and business transactions. Last one was for about $15,000,000 and breach of contract for supply from China.
Interesting case but boringly slow ...

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Well its all done and dusted!
My big day in court as a pivotal witness in a major case went something like this:

Sworn -in.

Prosecutor: Mr. Hexter, is the accused the man to whom you handed off your parcel on blah blah date.
Me: Yes.
Prosecutor. You're sure?
Me: Yes.
Prosecutor: And the parcel was never received by the adressee??
Me: No. I think you have her testimony on file.
Prosecutor: We do, yes.
Me: Good.
Prosecutor: Well, Thank you. No more questions.
Magistrate: Mr. Jones, (defence attorney) your witness.
Defence: No questions your worship.
Magistrate: Mr. Hexter, you're dismissed and thanks.
Me: Pleasure.

Total elapsed time - about 17 seconds.
I had myself all revved for a good give and take on the reliability of recognising the guy and statistical analysis of facial features.
Oh well.
Justice is nearly done,
I got a nice cup of tea and a sandwich from the DPP. :D