Court

[sms316]

I have just been advised by the AFP that I am required to attend a court as a witness to a criminal act.

Anybody else ever gone through the experience? Sounds interesting, but intimidating at the same time.

[Jarro]

You saw Matty Johns in the act 'eh ?

[PeteyD]

Not interesting. Lots of sitting around not knowing wtf is going on. What act did you witness.

[sms316]

I'm not sure how much I should say.

Let's just leave it at "money laundering".

[PeteyD]

Thought it would be something like that with the AFP.

[Dotty]

If it is a work related matter, can the union or your employer/branch manager offer any assistance/advice ?

[kpac]

i got stuck in that situation over a pretty ugly dispute with blame of a fatality. It was sh|t. So i'll think twice about 'having my eyes open' in the future. As for a bit of money laund, meh, you'll be right.

[sms316]

If it is a work related matter, can the union or your employer/branch manager offer any assistance/advice ?
Yes, it is a work related matter (from a past position with my current employer). I already have an appointment with one of our senior managers for advice.


i got stuck in that situation over a pretty ugly dispute with blame of a fatality. It was sh|t. So i'll think twice about 'having my eyes open' in the future. As for a bit of money laund, meh, you'll be right.
I'm sure I'll be fine. The guy did plead guilty to another charge which was just plain disturbing (and revolting).

[sms316]

What are you going to wear ?
Don't you mean "Who are you wearing"?

[Jarro]

A Moo-moo

[sms316]

Wanker.

For both the post, and the avatar.

[3oneday]

I thought the thread was about Courty, and you couldn't speel.




Suck it up big boy, just don't let them make you cry ;)

[Courty]

I thought the thread was about Courty, and you couldn't speel.

So did I... :mrgreen:

I've never attended as a witness, but I have sat on a jury.

[markTHEblake]

You will get paid for sitting around in court doing nothing. But as you are getting time off work to be in court, you are supposed to give the money to the company.

Hopefully the place is run by slackers and they wont pick up on it.

I recall one time sitting in court for 3 days (actually was told to go by lunchtime each day) for only 60 seconds of fame being examined by the prosecuter. picked up a cool $200 roughly.

[jimandr]

I've gone to court as a witness a number of times regarding work-related matters. Nothing as important as money-laundering fraud though.

It isn't nearly as interesting or exciting as it appears on TV. Unless you are the chief informant, and your evidence is crucial to the case, the defence (assuming the matter is being defended) won't bother with you. The role of most witnesses is to present facts that the prosecutor is not able to establish purely through documents. Often, my only role has been to attest to the genuineness and accuracy of documents being presented.

If you do get cross-examined, the most important thing is to listen to the question being asked, and answer it only when you are sure of what is being asked. Then, answer the question, and say nothing else. Don't provide further explanation, or your opinion.

Your work will tell you this anyway, but make sure to get whatever documents from the court that you need for reimbursement of your expenses.

[razaar]

I've gone to court as a witness a number of times regarding work-related matters. Nothing as important as money-laundering fraud though.

It isn't nearly as interesting or exciting as it appears on TV. Unless you are the chief informant, and your evidence is crucial to the case, the defence (assuming the matter is being defended) won't bother with you. The role of most witnesses is to present facts that the prosecutor is not able to establish purely through documents. Often, my only role has been to attest to the genuineness and accuracy of documents being presented.

If you do get cross-examined, the most important thing is to listen to the question being asked, and answer it only when you are sure of what is being asked. Then, answer the question, and say nothing else. Don't provide further explanation, or your opinion.

Your work will tell you this anyway, but make sure to get whatever documents from the court that you need for reimbursement of your expenses.
Great advice here.

[sms316]

It isn't nearly as interesting or exciting as it appears on TV. Unless you are the chief informant, and your evidence is crucial to the case, the defence (assuming the matter is being defended) won't bother with you. The role of most witnesses is to present facts that the prosecutor is not able to establish purely through documents. Often, my only role has been to attest to the genuineness and accuracy of documents being presented.

If you do get cross-examined, the most important thing is to listen to the question being asked, and answer it only when you are sure of what is being asked. Then, answer the question, and say nothing else. Don't provide further explanation, or your opinion.

The defence will bother with me for sure. I was the first to suspect something going on. Two others followed me in reporting the issue, only one of those was prepared to make a statement.

[Webster]

Beware, sms316 is a SNITCH!

[sms316]

Hehehe.

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9459/snows.jpg

[henno]

Heh niiice Snow reference.

[sms316]

You must have been 5 years old when Informer was released.

[henno]

You must have been 5 years old when Informer was released.

Pfft, mid-teens mate (13 or 14?). It's more a song of my youth than yours! :mrgreen:

[sms316]

Just had my subpoena served on me. Nov 2/3.

Hope they warm up the chair.

[Minor_Threat]

Just had my subpoena served on me. Nov 2/3.

Hope they warm up the chair.
Do they pay for your travel?

[sms316]

Yeah. Just a pain in the arse.

[ParMaster]

What do you get in turn for being a witness SMS?

Can you refuse?

Gratz on 4k posts BTW.

[sms316]

Pretty much get nothing in return, except for the knowledge that a filthy ***** will be locked up just that bit longer.

No, I can't refuse. Otherwise it will be contempt of court.

[rodders]

Used to cross examine for a living SMS.

Sounds like your vital to the case. Some advice:

1. listen to the question. Don't be worried if you don't understand the question, ask to be repeated or to be rephrased. (judges sometimes don't understand some of the crap questions I have heard over the years.)
2. if you feel more at ease (you will be nervous), look down while being asked questions and answer the judge direct (turn and talk to him/her and say "Your Honour...."
3. Unless your asked for your opinion, don't give it unless you have a special qualification to answer it. In other words, avoid starting your sentence with "I think..."
4. Be polite. Sometimes counsel may try and get a reaction by putting something to you that is the opposite of what your saying. Classics are the old " I put to you you couldnt possibly be sure he did that.."

Good luck!

[markTHEblake]

Pretty much get nothing in return

there is definitely a witness fee that you claim through the clerk of the courts. however the protocol is that if you get time off work with pay, the money goes to your employer.

i remember a mate of mine got robbed while doing a night shift in a petrol station. he went away on holidays and they subpoenad him in the middle of the holday for the case , so he got a free airfare back home and put up in a hotel for a few days, even though he only iived a few k's from the courthouse

[sms316]

Just got off the phone with the Public Prosecutor to discuss my evidence for this Monday. Have to say I am a little nervous about the experience.

Can't wait until it is over so I can actually say what he has done.

[WBennett]

So our all night bender on Sunday night is off then?

[markTHEblake]

Is there any chance you are actually going to tell us what you saw. Even a hint?

[sms316]

So our all night bender on Sunday night is off then?
Staying at Rydges Lakeside. Bobby McGee's?

[markTHEblake]

aha. the old witness protection program thingy. They give you new identity, job and body.

[sms316]

Yep, nobody will ever find me hanging off a bar, blind drunk.

[sms316]

Well, done and dusted. An interesting experience indeed.

Was a little nervous when I went in (was first person called in), but for some reason felt totally at ease the moment I entered the court, despite the best efforts of the defence lawyer and the defendant who both tried to eyeball me throughout my time.

Was in there for 30 mins all up, and found out afterwards that they were trying to set me up to discredit the other witness. The guts of it is that they thought that the same guy would never ask the same question twice.

I told him that I couldn't speak for the other staff, but it wouldn't be the first time that somebody asked a question, didn't like the reponse, so asked the same question again to somebody else to see if they could get their way.

That pissed the lawyer off. The prosecuting lawyer game me a wry smile and a wink.

[razaar]

Perry Mason stuff.

[sms316]

Not quite.

The other witness rang me afterwards and said he wouldn't mind a threesome with the magistrate (probably about 50yo lady) and the clerk (a stunner in her mid-20s). Hard to argue with that. That magistrate would have tought him a thing or two. Probably big on discipline too.

[ParMaster]

So are you going to put us out of our misery and tell us what the case was about?

[sms316]

This guy came into the credit union I worked for an wanted to withdraw $10K cash. I told him that I had to report it to the Commonwealth Govt as a significant cash transaction. He then asked what he could withdraw without it being reported.

Needless to say, I reported him for suspicious transactions.

He then went on to withdraw about $60K in $10/$20 denominations over a one month period.

The AFP searched his place and found all sorts of stuff. They then searched his computer and found it to be full of kiddy porn. Filthy animal.

Shouldn't be too difficult to work out what he has been up to from that information.

[Scottt]

SMS - The Rydges/Bobby McGee's comment brought a smile to my face. We used to stay there every year when I was a kid on the way to the snow. Every year for about 7-8 years my mum's birthday dinner was at Bobby McGee's, with the failed actors/waiters singing and dancing for her :lol:

[sms316]

Bobby McGees is no more!

[ParMaster]

This guy came into the credit union I worked for an wanted to withdraw $10K cash. I told him that I had to report it to the Commonwealth Govt as a significant cash transaction. He then asked what he could withdraw without it being reported.

Needless to say, I reported him for suspicious transactions.

He then went on to withdraw about $60K in $10/$20 denominations over a one month period.

The AFP searched his place and found all sorts of stuff. They then searched his computer and found it to be full of kiddy porn. Filthy animal.

Shouldn't be too difficult to work out what he has been up to from that information.

:shock:

Is he likely to be guilty? Does a long sentance await him?

[Scottt]

Bobby McGees is no more!

Tears!

[sms316]

He pleaded guilty to the child porn possession. Will probably find out about the monetary charge tomorrow.

The coppers told me that in any other state he would be a certainty for jail time, but because he is in Canberra (where the ACT Govt are a bunch of left-wing hippies) he is likely to only get community service.

[Yossarian]

They should flog the ****er.

[mike]

This guy came into the credit union I worked for an wanted to withdraw $10K cash. I told him that I had to report it to the Commonwealth Govt as a significant cash transaction.
Why? I know he's scum, but it is his money isn't it?

[sms316]

Any person who makes a cash transaction of $10K or more is likely to attract attention. How often would somebody go out of their way to buy a car with cash?

That is why the Govt require it to be reported.

[goughy]

Well SMS, in this case we can say we love your work! Do you know if it was your report that got the cops interested in him, or were they already suspicious?

[ParMaster]

He pleaded guilty to the child porn possession. Will probably find out about the monetary charge tomorrow.

The coppers told me that in any other state he would be a certainty for jail time, but because he is in Canberra (where the ACT Govt are a bunch of left-wing hippies) he is likely to only get community service.

Community service...

What a fkn joke. He should get several (5 or 6) years behind bars.

[sms316]

Well SMS, as is always the case, we can say we love your work! Do you know if it was your report that got the cops interested in him, or were they already suspicious?
He was reported about 8 times by myself and one other guy. I think that got the attention of the authorities.

[WBennett]

And now you are in contempt of court discussing a case that has not been reported in the local media.

You will be more likely to get locked up than the kiddiepornwatcher

[sms316]

And now you are in contempt of court discussing a case that has not been reported in the local media.

You will be more likely to get locked up than the kiddiepornwatcher

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/17/2493917.htm

[sms316]

Looks like I get to find out how the Qld court system compared to the ACT shortly after one of my "customers" was charged yesterday.

[dc68]

Whack you? Spat on you?

[Dotty]

Monster promo girl stalking you ?

[sms316]

Whack you? Spat on you? One of those. He got charged yesterday.
Monster promo girl stalking you ?It doesn't count if you want to be sexually harassed.