Notes to assist you in helping me to help you.
John Hounslow
Wilks Price Hounslow
9 Garfield Road St
Ryde
IW PO33 2LZ
01983 566241 FAX 01983
616880
john@seax.demon.co.uk
Dated
Dear
Re CHARGES .
Next date when you need
to attend. at
Thank you for
instructing me to represent you with regard to the above offence(s).
Things you can do to
help me to help you.
1.
Make sure
that I have your National Insurance
Number & any phone numbers.
2.
Provide
written proof of your income or benefit in order to support your Legal Aid
claim.
If I am not sure I
will be paid it will delay me from preparing your case.
3.
Please
write out in your own words the events which led up to your charge(s) in as
much detail as possible.
4.
This will
assist me to prepare a statement and your defence or mitigation.
3. If you have any
witnesses please provide me with name address and telephone number.
If possible ask them
to write to me and set out what they know about the incident.
If you have information or documentation
which may assist your case, please give it to me as soon as possible.
If either you or your
witnesses have any problem with writing events down make an appointment to see
me or
my assistant so we may
take as statement.
5.
I have
explained the procedure of the Court relevant to your case but if you are
unsure about anything please ask.
6.
The papers
you receive are confidential and should not be shown to people not involved in
the case.
5. Appearance and
attitude are important. You do not need to wear formal clothes but being clean
and tidy counts.
If the Court gets the
impression that you do not care then they may take less notice of what you
say.
It is important when
you speak or give evidence in Court to face the Magistrates or Jury.
Speak clearly and do
not be afraid of being nervous. Most people are.
7.
Prompt
attendance at Court is crucial. If you are late, you could find that a Warrant
for your arrest may be issued.
8.
Breach of
bail is a serious matter which may
effect your chances of being remanded in custody
9.
if you are
arrested in future.
Yours Sincerely
John Hounslow
COURT PROCEDURE .
The offence you are
charged with may/will/can not be dealt with the Crown Court.
If it is not going to the Crown Court ignore
the following information about Crown Court.
In all cases if you
are guilty you should get a reduction in sentence for an early guilty plea.
It also never hurts to say sorry. But if you are not guilty you should not
admit the offence.
If your case is being
dealt with in the Magistrates Court. I or some other Solicitor will speak for
you.
In a Crown Court you
will have a barrister. If you have an opinion as to which barrister please tell
me.
If the case is summary
only it can only be dealt with in the Magistrates Court.
Once you have decided
on your plea you will be asked if you plead guilty or Not Guilty.
If guilty the court
will either sentence you that day or ask for a
pre sentence report (PSR) from probation if they are thinking of
custody, a Community Rehabilitation Order (probation) or a Community Punishment
Order(community service).
If not guilty the case will adjourned for a
hearing at which you will need to produce your witnesses to give evidence.
We will need to discus
this.
If the offence is
either way and you are intending to plead not guilty the court will be asked if
it will accept the case.
If it does not it will
send you to Crown Court. Even if it does agree to take the case you will still
have the choice
where you wish to be
tried. Crown Court can impose higher
penalties and extra costs if you are guilty but the trial
is in front of a jury
who are made up of ordinary people. If
we have agreed you want to go to Crown Court you
will be asked where
you wish to be tried by the court and you will need tell the court your choice.
Very serious offences
are only dealt with in the Crown Court.
If you are charged with one I will have explained procedure.
If you are going to
Crown Court the Magistrates Court will set a date for Committal (Transfer) to
the Crown Court
and at that date you
will be given the first hearing date for a Plea and Directions hearing (PDH) at
the Crown Court.
It is essential you
attend in good time that day to meet your Barrister who may also be referred to
as your counsel.
At the PDH you will
give your plea and unless the Prosecution accept these, the court will make
directions as to how
your trial will take
place. The date for this may not be set but will be notified to you possibly at
short notice.
It is important you
keep in contact with my office and ensure we have you up to date phone and
address details.
If you are going away
even over night you should let me know.
Any witnesses for you
need to be identified to us and if you need them at court for the final hearing.
They should be told by
us to attend but you will help your self if you also keep them informed and
remind them of any hearing date.
Failure to attend any
hearing dates on time when on bail will have serious both now and later.
A warrant for your
arrest may be issued. A record for
breach of bail will effect your chances of bail in future. I
will try to insure you are reminded about
dates but it is you who will suffer if you fail attend and you
must make the effort
to keep appointments.
If you are in any
doubt about anything please ask me to
explain.