I have recently had a pretty harsh decision to make. I have been asked to testify against an old friend of mine in court. I haven't been in touch with this friend of mine for several years, but he really helped me out when the chips were down and I owe him big time for it. The charges against him are pretty serious. My part in it is that a person directly involved in the situation told me about it a year ago. The reason for my testimony is to show that this person did indeed say that the incident occured at a time shorty after it was supposed to have happened.
I am having a hard time with this. If my friend did what they think he did then I really do hope they put him away so he's not a danger to anyone anymore. Nonetheless, I can't help but feel like I am betraying him. It appears as though I have the ogres choice. I am going to testify, but I feel that I should be ashamed either way I go.
Has anyone got an opinion on this? Anyone ever have a similar situation? What would you have done? This is driving me nuts guys! 🙄
Originally posted by Omnislashdo you have the option of not testifying? cause if you've got to testify, you might as well tell them the truth, cause then the guy's not a danger to society, and your not breaking the law...but if you have the option? i hav no idea...
I have recently had a pretty harsh decision to make. I have been asked to testify against an old friend of mine in court. I haven't been in touch with this friend of mine for several years, but he really helped me out when the chips were down and I owe him big time for it. The charges against him are pretty serious. My part in it is that a person directly ...[text shortened]... Anyone ever have a similar situation? What would you have done? This is driving me nuts guys! 🙄
As an outsider its maybe easy to try to contemplate what to do, but...
It seems like the only thing you are going to testif is that you heard this other person telling you something. If thats all you need to testify and nothign else, it doesnt seem like too hard a thing. You are not really saying anything about whether something happened or not, only that you have been told about his even before. As I understand, that relly does not prove much, and if it really did happen that you were told about this event, then I feel you need to tell it...
The truth needs to be told, even if its painful sometimes...
Originally posted by Omnislashitis a hard one but in the end all that you can do is tell the truth and see a criminal(or whatever he did) rightly sentanced, but it is easy for me to say as he is not my friend. It is a worse decision for you but in the end you said " If my friend did what they think he did then I really do hope they put him away so he's not a danger to anyone anymore." and that really says it all, you should tell the truth so there is no danger.
I have recently had a pretty harsh decision to make. I have been asked to testify against an old friend of mine in court. I haven't been in touch with this friend of mine for several years, but he really helped me out when the chips were down and I owe him big time for it. The charges against him are pretty serious. My part in it is that a person directly ...[text shortened]... Anyone ever have a similar situation? What would you have done? This is driving me nuts guys! 🙄
David
Tough & nasty situation. Does it help to look at it this way - all you are doing is to go to court & tell what you know. You aren't testifying to try to put your friend away, you aren't testifying to try to keep him out, you are just saying what you know. Can you ignore the fact that you think your testimony might be bad for your friends case?
It is then for the judge & jury to decide if he did it, & to decide the punishment if indeed he did. Like you said, if he did it he should be punished - by telling what you know you are only going to make the truth more likely to come out, be that good or bad for your friend.
In short - it's not your job in the legal process to decide what is best, it's your job to provide any information you have so that others who are impartial have as complete a picture as possible to make their decisions.
Originally posted by willatkinsActually, this is one of the few situations where hearsay is admissible. All he is testifying to is the fact that the statement was made - his evidence is not taken into account in determining the truth of the statement (and the judge should inform the jury of this).
I am suprised they are letting you testify. In the US, what you have described is hearsay and generally not admisable in court. But, all in all, I would say what I know and let the chips fall where they may. Tough situation though. I am glad I am not in your shoes.
If this is a serious criminal matter, if you tell the prosecutors you do not plan on showing up to court, they will probably get a subpoena forcing you to go to court and testify. Then, once you take the stand, you have no choice but to tell the truth, or break your oath/affirmation.
Originally posted by OmnislashThat must be hard haveing to testify against a friend, but I think you should as what you know may lead to one less bad guy on the street if he did it.
I have recently had a pretty harsh decision to make. I have been asked to testify against an old friend of mine in court. I haven't been in touch with this friend of mine for several years, but he really helped me out when the chips were down and I owe him big time for it. The charges against him are pretty serious. My part in it is that a person directly ...[text shortened]... Anyone ever have a similar situation? What would you have done? This is driving me nuts guys! 🙄
just tell the truth.
-Adam
PS - what was the crime he was accused of?
Originally posted by OmnislashThat's a very hard decision, good luck with it...the truth is always the best, remember that. I'm sure you're going to make the right choice.
I have recently had a pretty harsh decision to make. I have been asked to testify against an old friend of mine in court. I haven't been in touch with this friend of mine for several years, but he really helped me out when the chips were down and I owe him big time for it. The charges against him are pretty serious. My part in it is that a person directly ...[text shortened]... Anyone ever have a similar situation? What would you have done? This is driving me nuts guys! 🙄
All the best,
Olav
I want to thank everyone for their posts. I feel much more confident now that my testimony is the only rational thing I can do. I wish I could explain more in depth about what the specifics are, but it was really stressed to me by the investigator to keep it all on the low. Being that my friend is employed in the law enforcement field I can see why. All I can do is play my part and hope it turns out for the best.
When this is all over and done with I will let you all know what came of it. My thanks again for all of your thoughts. If anyone else has anything they think would be of interest/help, please feel free to put it in. Why do all the fun situations happen to me? 😉😀
Originally posted by Black LungAh, but now that's the problem. He's NOT more important to me than the alleged crime. If we were talking some other kind of crime I very well might be as uncooperative as possible, but in this case the crime is VERY serious indeed. I absolutely HATE that I have to be involved since I owe the guy, but this time around I could do a lot more hurt than good if I don't cooperate. Damn the man is right! Damn my friend if he's guilty and damn the cops if he's not. I certainly appreciate your point. It illustrates WHY I am having a hard time with this. I wish I COULD lie about it, but I couldn't live with myself if I helped him get off and he did it again. In all truth.......I think he probably DID do it, and that's what bothers me the most. Let the chips fall where they may, I will tell the truth but offer no extra info.
Not meaning to insult anyone or be offensive, what's wrong with a little bit of purgery. Lie for your buddy. I mean if this person is more important to you than the alleged crime then what's the problem? Damn the man!