A different #spotlightsessions thread: Good afternoon, I’m defendant X, I used to work but I lost my job. I was arrested in early 2018 & RUI’d. I received a postal requisition & was told to attend court for my 1st appearance. I applied for Legal Aid, having lost my job, but 1/10
I was told I had to use my savings to pay for my lawyers or pay a huge contribution towards Legal Aid. I instructed lawyers privately & attended court. The CPS didn’t have my papers so my case was adjourned. I returned a few weeks later & my case was sent to the Crown 2/10
Court. My PTPH was adjourned on the 1st occasion because the court couldn’t accommodate it on the original date. When it eventually went ahead there was no indictment so I couldn’t actually enter a plea. I was given a trial date in something called a Warned List; a date for 3/10
my trial that wasn’t actually a date at all, just a two week window. That date arrived and I was told my trial was “floating”, the witnesses were at court too. The trial didn’t go ahead & at the end of the two weeks I had to go back to court yet again, for a new trial 4/10
date to be chosen. It’s odd because half the courts in the building were unused; there was plenty of space for my trial. My lawyer told me that there are also plenty of judges/recorders. I asked why they don’t use all courts & my lawyer said something about funding & the 5/10
Government. Anyway, I get another date for trial, the 2nd date & another Warned List. The allegation dates back to 2016, my trial is now listed in January 2020. Anyway, having lost my job because of the allegation, I’m out of work & now have to leave my flat. My friend will 6/10
allow me to use his couch until my trial in January 2020. I’m running out of money to pay my lawyers. I apply for Legal Aid again. January comes and my trial is floating again, I’m told it’s because I’m on bail. The witness turns up again but the court can’t 7/10
accommodate the trial. Again, half the courts are unused in the building, what’s going on? The judge tells me that I’d still get credit for my plea & indicates I would not go to jail; but I’m innocent. Another trial date is set for May 2020. Along comes Covid 19 & the courts 8/10
close. My trial date is abandoned and I’m told that I’ll get a trial date in August 2020; I should make clear, I’ll be told in August when my trial date will be. August comes along & I’m told my trial date is now July 2021. The witness contacts the CPS 9/10
to inform they are moving to South America to start a new life. They no longer support the case & say they have been messed around & have no faith in the system; they’ve got a point. The CPS review my case and drop it. It’s August 2020. #TheSystemIsBroken 10/10
