GUILTY AS CHARGED!!!!!!!!

benson21

benson21

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Well, after all the work up to this morning and the trial, all the work I have done with my councellor to prepare to stand up and tell a jury what happened, what does he do.

PLEAD GUILTY!!!!:eek:
So now we are not required as witnesses, and just have to wait for sentencing.
Why could he not of done this at the beginning is anybodys guess!

I know I should feel relieved, but I felt this was my chance to tell him the effect he has had on my life.
And now I cant.:(:(
 
Could you not request to speak at his sentencing? or forward a letter to the judge explaining how you feel. I agree with you that you should be able to put the aftershocks it has had in your life to be considered.

Good Luck.x
 
I am glad he has pleaded guilty but I'm sorry you didn't get your day in court.
I was thinking it would bring some kind of closure to say your piece and let him know how affected you'd been by his actions.

Can you not do an impact statement?
 
yeah I have done 2 impact statemnts, one when I was in hospital and one about 6 weeks ago. I guess I was just so syked up to go in there, and then a bit deflated cos we dont have to. But never mind, we wait now til sentencing.
 
Thank goodness he finally admitted fault, that at least is something

Such a shame though that the powers that be could not see and hear the effect it has has on you.

All in all though a good result xxx
 
We were hit by a car last feb. benson, who I was riding died, and Charlie who was being ridden by my friend Tammy, who owned benson was injured and PTS 6 weeks later. I broke my back and was in hospital for 3 weeks. Thats about it in a snapshot!
 
Great news that he had admitted fault, but totally understand that you wanted to have your chance to get closure.

Hope he gets the sentence he deserves, and big (((((((hugs))))))) to you and your friend :)
 
benson21 said:
We were hit by a car last feb. benson, who I was riding died, and Charlie who was being ridden by my friend Tammy, who owned benson was injured and PTS 6 weeks later. I broke my back and was in hospital for 3 weeks. Thats about it in a snapshot!
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Oh my life - how awful. I am so glad you and Tammy have recovered physically at least and so so sorry that you lost 2 horses.

I'm glad the man has pleaded guilty but I agree with others that it does not give you closure. Can you ask your solicitor if you can write a letter to be read in Court telling how this trauma has affected your and Tammy's lives?

I really hope you both recover fully from this in time.

(((hugs))) and RIP Benson and Charlie.
 
I am sure the judge will read and take into account your impact statements and lets hope this person gets the sentance that he deserves.

Well done for you being brave enough to go through with standing up in court !
 
I know u wanted ur day but when u get on the stand it's real hard. This is probably for the best. At least u may now get a result and some closure that way. Hugs.
 
I agree, you must have such mixed feelings about this. At last he has admitted liability but after all you have been put through the chance to put your side of events and the impact on your lives would have brought some closure at least. I have no idea (thank goodness) of legal processes but surely your statements so far will be taken into account when sentencing takes place? I just hope he gets a suitable punishment which takes into account both the offence, the time he has wasted and the stress he has caused :( Take care and please do let us know what happens x
 
Sending you very best wishes from me and my boy. I can't get on the forum as much as I'd like so had no idea this had happened. I understand that you must be broken hearted and your story has brought me to tears, I know you must have needed your day in court to explain the far reaching ramifications of what this guy has done but please comfort yourself by the fact that justice should prevail and he will be punished.

Hugs xx
 
This happens alot. The offenders hold out as long as they can, specially if they believe they will eventually get a custodial sentence. It gives them a little longer freedom until they receive their sentence. As long as the court has your impact statement it will inform them of how you feel, how it's affected you & this should influence any sentence. I hope the offender will be dealt with at Crown Court rather than Magistrates as their power is greater. The Magistrates can however commit the offender to the Crown Court for sentencing if they believe their power is insufficient.

Additionally, by entering a guilty plea it will have made it easier for you to take civil action against the driver for damages etc as his guilt is accepted & all they will have to do is decide what the damages should be. I accept that nothing can replace the horses that died or stop the pain & possible long term affects of your injury but a payout can ease things.

Good Luck I hope you get a good result.
 
I am sorry you missed your chance to have your say after all that happened. I am no legal expert but an educated guess is that the prosecutor would cite the impact of what happened to you, your friend and the fact that both horses died as a direct result. However, I would also agree that you speak to your solicitor to ask if your letter can be read in court and if not, could you arrange a meeting face to face? I presume this is a police and not civil matter in which case I know you do have very little input. Might it also be worth contacting your insurance company as well to see if they have any sway.

However, he has pleaded guilty. It is awful that he has put you through all the additionial stress but I really hope you will be able to find some sort of closure now.
 
Yes, i have just had a call from witness protection, they have said that will all be taken into consideration. I can make another impact statement if i wanted too, but I think i have already said it all.

But.....I have just found out he lives in the road just behind my house, now, should I go and knock on his door for a chat????!!!!;););)
 
I'm so glad for you that he pleaded guilty. whilst you haven't had a chance to say your piece he has accepted what we knew all along. he murdered Benson and Charlie with his dangerous driving!

write a letter to the judge though. he probably thinks he can get away with a short sentence for pleading guilty.

have to say I think you're lucky to not have to have gone to court and relived what happened.

one step closer to Benson and Charlie resting in peace though.

*hugs*
 
Serenity087 said:
I'm so glad for you that he pleaded guilty. whilst you haven't had a chance to say your piece he has accepted what we knew all along. he murdered Benson and Charlie with his dangerous driving!

write a letter to the judge though. he probably thinks he can get away with a short sentence for pleading guilty.

have to say I think you're lucky to not have to have gone to court and relived what happened.

one step closer to Benson and Charlie resting in peace though.

*hugs*
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^^ Have to agree with Serenity. Psyching yourself up to actually go to court and then being in court saying it is so difficult, and nothing can really prepare you for it.

I had to go to crown court and be a witness to something that happened when i was young. Bearing in mind, I, like you was the innocent party, it really traumatised me, I held it together in court (something I thought I'd not be able to do at the time), but the impact it made on my emotional well being for the next few years is not one I'd want to have to endure again. It really does rip open old wounds, and I had had 20 years to deal with the reason this person was in court.

I am not being dismissive, really I think you are tremendously brave and have already endured so much. But be glad that this awful man has pleaded guilty to his crimes, and you haven't had to be put through the court process, your statements will be given to the jury and I should imagine the judge will refer to them at sentencing. I only hope he is sentenced to more than a "slapped wrist"...

Good luck, and big hugs to you.
 
yes, I know what you are saying. I know I will eventually be pleased I didnt have to take the stand, but the way I feel now is like, you know when someone has upset you, and you think, I am gonna say this, and i will do that, and then they come over and apologise. sort of takes the wind out of your sails!
But I am not, definately not complaining that he pleaded guilty,I think maybe thats how it has sounded.
 
No, it doesn't sound like a complaint. I can empathise with you, I truly can.

You've waited so long and had to be so brave that it was a way of channelling all that hurt, anger and frustration at the person that caused it.

Be there at the sentencing, though do take someone for moral support and a vast supply of tissues.

My thoughts are with you. X
 
catdragon said:
Be there at the sentencing, though do take someone for moral support and a vast supply of tissues.
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believe me, i take tissues. i think i have cried throughout every appearance! :oJust seeing his face brings out all the emotion!! I was like a blubbering wreck yesterday, which is why I think people could of read it that I was dissappointed!:o
 
He really is a barsteward isn't he. :mad: I hope you get to tell the judge who does the sentencing just what this last year or more has been like for you and your friend and your families, and just what you lost.
I do not know what to say to you except you have stayed so strong and done so well to come this far I hope he gets what he deserves. x
 
Im so glad that he has had the sense to plead guilty. At least things are moving forward for you now.

Don't whatever you do go and knock on his door. If you do this you will be giving him amunition to reduce his sentence when it comes. I think you will find he would be straight on the phone to his solicitor and whatever is said between you I am sure would be 'flowered' and you would have no viable witness to this. Leave it to the courts now and please, whatever you do stay away from him, you have come to far to blow it now.

Hugs to you. xxx
 
Mickeymoo, I know, but it would be so satisfying to see the look on his face with me at the door! But no, I will not be doing it!
 
benson21 said:
We were hit by a car last feb. benson, who I was riding died, and Charlie who was being ridden by my friend Tammy, who owned benson was injured and PTS 6 weeks later. I broke my back and was in hospital for 3 weeks. Thats about it in a snapshot!
Click to expand...

Oh no, how tragic :(
Like the others have said, glad he admitted it but its a shame you didn't get to say your bit.
 
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