When the abuser pleads guilty/not guilty
When the abuser pleads guilty/not guilty
At the first court date (sometimes called a plea hearing) the abuser will plead guilty or not guilty.
If the abuser was bailed after arrest, this will happen the next Wednesday morning at a Specialist Domestic Violence Court, where all the staff involved have had special training in dealing with domestic abuse.
If the abuser was kept in custody after arrest, the plea hearing will be the next day at a standard magistrates court.
Do you have to go to the first court date?
No. The abuser has to go, but you don't. A Court
Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) will also go to court,
to listen to the case.
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What happens after the abuser pleads guilty/not
guilty?
Most abusers plead guilty.
If they say they did it and plead guilty, they'll be sentenced. There won't be a trial.
But if they say they did some of it but not all and plead guilty, there will be a trial.
If they say they didn't do any of it and plead not guilty, there will be a trial.
Only a few people plead not guilty, and most of these are found guilty in the end.
Next: If there is a trial...