witness statements!

[cassy-brace]

hi i am a witness for a gbh, its gone to crown court. The attackers family are claiming they have everyone's statements?? the police have been terrible and not helpful at all. i would like to know if the people your a witness against is allowed your statement? (they have said they have got them all in their house?)

[boxtops]

I'm not legal, but I thought that any evidence being declared as evidence has to be available to both sides of the case.

[hc4361]

The defendant will have a copy of all the statements.

[boxtops]

What I meant to write was "any statements being declared as evidence..."

[cassy-brace]

i know there allowed to see the statements in court but my problem is there saying they have got alot of paperwork due to the case from the police. we've contacted the police several times and they have not got bk to us? i have been threatened by the attackers and the police havent done anything about it. i have 3 small children and it seems the only kind of answers im gonna get is of here!

[cassy-brace]

there is more than 1 attacker involved and only one of them & their family are claiming to have our statements. im very confused by this all due to not having any support from the police so i havent got a clue what goes on n whats suppose 2 happen.

[hc4361]

The police send a copy of the statements to the defendant's solicitor, and the solicitor will send a copy to the defendant. So yes, the defendant will have copies in his house.

Your name and address will only be on the back of the statement, the defendant gets the front pages only.

The defendant and his solicitor need to see the witness statements well in advance of the trial in order to prepare the defence.

You will find this link useful:
http://www.direct.gov...timsOfCrime/DG_181647

[ronnietoon]

in answer to your question yes,the cps have to give a full disclosure to the accused.

i agree the police/cps are terrible.

i can give you two examples of where i the accused had access to witnesses statements where their home phone number/mobile and address were all visible to me albeit upside down as i was in police interview.

that was in 2006 and when the cps gave me me the statements there was the same details this time not upside down.

after reading your question i looked at a case i was involved in,in 2011(the papers) and there was no such details.

saying that 4 out of the six witnesses were/are serving police officers.

if you feel threatened keep going to the police,because if a crown court judge saw it he/she would be angered.

[cassy-brace]

Thank you, you have been very helpful.

[Hymie]

I would advise that you write to the police (keeping a copy of your letter), informing them that you have been threatened by the defendants in the case (giving full details).

Should the police take no action in relation to this information, as ronnietoon says the Crown Court Judge will be very annoyed that the police have taken no action.