THR!
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2001
- Messages
- 3,223
A friend of my boyfriends has been charged with something arising from going out last night that he didn't do ... (theft). Two bouncers at a bar detained him and called the cops, who charged him and have given him a summons for court next month.
I'm wondering what the best process of going about obtaining all the evidence is (or lack of) so that he can be defended? The bouncers made up this story that they caught him on camera doing something, which is just bullshit, and it was probably a case of mistaken identity (I don't dispute something went missing, but it just wasn't him). But they being "eyewitnesses" will probably have given statements?
Are the police obliged to give you a copy of their evidence prior to the hearing? Because if they're eyewitnessees we would need their statements to be able to dispute what they are saying. Otherwise it's just his word against theirs.
He wasn't caught with anything, didn't take anything, didn't have anything on him, so I'm not even sure why the police charged him. The charge sheet doesn't give any detail at all (it goes on to state that he sustained injuries to himself which he doesn't even have!).
Any ideas as to how to approach this? I was thinking of contacting Legal Aid and trying to get some free advice but the case against him must be pretty weak.
I'm wondering what the best process of going about obtaining all the evidence is (or lack of) so that he can be defended? The bouncers made up this story that they caught him on camera doing something, which is just bullshit, and it was probably a case of mistaken identity (I don't dispute something went missing, but it just wasn't him). But they being "eyewitnesses" will probably have given statements?
Are the police obliged to give you a copy of their evidence prior to the hearing? Because if they're eyewitnessees we would need their statements to be able to dispute what they are saying. Otherwise it's just his word against theirs.
He wasn't caught with anything, didn't take anything, didn't have anything on him, so I'm not even sure why the police charged him. The charge sheet doesn't give any detail at all (it goes on to state that he sustained injuries to himself which he doesn't even have!).
Any ideas as to how to approach this? I was thinking of contacting Legal Aid and trying to get some free advice but the case against him must be pretty weak.