Hooray for justice
Discussion
A few weeks ago I was called to give evidence at court. I had to keep my diary clear for 2 weeks. I called the Friday before and they denied all knowledge, but finaly they told me I was in on the Tuesday. Arrived after a 100 mile drive to find my bit had been cancelled but I wasn't told, so had to go back the next day. Did so, did my bit (3 minutes tops), man now detained at HM cost.
Submit my witness expenses, and justify why I didn't use public transport, could I have shared a lift, they won't pay parking unless I can justify using the car etc etc. They offered the princely sum of about £65 a day for lost earnings and £4.50 for lunch etc, for having turned down 2 weeks of work.
I do receive a prompt cheque for £233 for loss of 2 days earnings, travel and subsistence. Two days later I got a letter to say there has been a computer problem and they shouldn't have sent the cheque. The cheque had been cancelled, and would be re-issued. Following day I get a second cheque for exactly the same amount.
Me thinks next time I will be looking the other way.
Submit my witness expenses, and justify why I didn't use public transport, could I have shared a lift, they won't pay parking unless I can justify using the car etc etc. They offered the princely sum of about £65 a day for lost earnings and £4.50 for lunch etc, for having turned down 2 weeks of work.
I do receive a prompt cheque for £233 for loss of 2 days earnings, travel and subsistence. Two days later I got a letter to say there has been a computer problem and they shouldn't have sent the cheque. The cheque had been cancelled, and would be re-issued. Following day I get a second cheque for exactly the same amount.
Me thinks next time I will be looking the other way.
Insult to injury, I have just had a charge from my bank for them stopping the cheque!!
I have to say that the witness care at the court was really good, much better than it was when I last gave evidence some years ago. It just seems they cant get the admin right. They even lied to say they had left an ansaphone message cancelling me at court, when in fact I don't have an ansaphone.
You are right that the satisfaction comes in the outcome. The guy had had his conviction for a very serious offence quashed on appeal and this was a re-trial, when he was convicted again. Oddly they didn't contest my evidence at the original trial in 1998.
I have to say that the witness care at the court was really good, much better than it was when I last gave evidence some years ago. It just seems they cant get the admin right. They even lied to say they had left an ansaphone message cancelling me at court, when in fact I don't have an ansaphone.
You are right that the satisfaction comes in the outcome. The guy had had his conviction for a very serious offence quashed on appeal and this was a re-trial, when he was convicted again. Oddly they didn't contest my evidence at the original trial in 1998.
What a joke.
Typical legal system arrogance. We all have to jump to their tune, turn up when they want, be available for however long it takes because they are sooooo important.
After all we only exist to serve them don't we? Never the other way around, Oh no.
I once had a secretary just out of school who had no problem at all in organising meetings, keeping the right people informed, dealing with major customers and suppliers etc...
Perhaps the courts should employ her and sack their arrogant muppets? Oh I forgot they're proffessional aren't they, that makes it totally different.
Anyone ever tried sueing the courts for expenses or claiming via the small claims?
Typical legal system arrogance. We all have to jump to their tune, turn up when they want, be available for however long it takes because they are sooooo important.
After all we only exist to serve them don't we? Never the other way around, Oh no.
I once had a secretary just out of school who had no problem at all in organising meetings, keeping the right people informed, dealing with major customers and suppliers etc...
Perhaps the courts should employ her and sack their arrogant muppets? Oh I forgot they're proffessional aren't they, that makes it totally different.
Anyone ever tried sueing the courts for expenses or claiming via the small claims?
planetdave said:
We owe witnesses a debt of gratitude for making the effort.
Why make it so hard to get villains banged up?
I agree. The amount of time I spent mucking around to provide some evidence in a credit card fraud case cost ne about ten times as much as the original loss, plus I had to deal with a lot of stroppy coppers who couldn't understand why me and my wife found that dropping everything to travel to Sheffield on a "night before" notice basis might possibly be a problem.
People get fed up with pursuing justice the proper way when it's so hard and rarely yields appropriate punishment. We descend into jungle law again.
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff