Domestic Violence, Battery On The Ex, in Los Angeles, California

MacOne · #1 12-09-2007, 02:00 PM

I'm in a gay relationship. I was intoxicated and under medication in the city of West Hollywood when i started to argue wiht my partner who was not intoxicated. I trip and landed on my knuckles and it started to bleed a bit and also the knuckles got swollen. Since i was wearing a white tshirt, i started to clean the blood with the tshirt..but after the argument i ended up at the police station for some help and the officer asked me questions about what happened. i stated what had happened..and weeks later the Detectives called us saying they were gonna press charges on him and i told him it wasnt his fault, so they said i could sign the paper to decline the charges. Months laters, we received another phone call from the DA saying they were gonna press charges on him and we need to go to the court and talk to the judge. Apparently, there were two warrants for his arrest and his got arrested at the court house and current he is awaiting court for tomorrow 12/10/2007. I know it wasnt his fault for my injuries and the his lawyer asked me to testify on his behalf. Can any body tell me what to do or advice me whats gonna happened next? i've never been in a court house or being infront of a judge if he or she will let me testity on his behalf. thank you.

ps. i found out the charges from the information center at the twin towers in LA.

cdwjava · #2 12-09-2007, 02:04 PM

You can go to court when subpoenaed and you can tell the truth. Other than that, all you can do is help pay for his attorney.

- Carl

MacOne · #3 12-09-2007, 02:06 PM

do you think the judge will listen to me? i know im not a great public speaker and i tend to confuse people when i talk

MacOne · #4 12-09-2007, 02:11 PM

i forgot to mentioned that the police officer stated that we were ex's when in fact we are still together..

cdwjava · #5 12-09-2007, 02:13 PM

No one knows whether the judge will listen to you. But, you first have to be asked to say something - this will likely happen only during testimony (when you are called to the stand) or at sentencing.

And whether the officer said you were an ex or still together is largely irrelevant to the nature of the charges. In CA domestic violence covers currently and formerly dating partners.

- Carl

MacOne · #6 12-09-2007, 02:26 PM

has there been any cases where the person talks to the judge and they drop the case?

cdwjava · #7 12-09-2007, 02:31 PM

Quoting MacOne

has there been any cases where the person talks to the judge and they drop the case?

Probably somewhere, but they shouldn't be talking to you. No judge is likely to listen to you in an ex parte communication. He can get in trouble if he hears testimony outside the courtroom, so he is not likely to talk to you at all. If you have anything to say, you had best speak to the DA and NOT to the judge.

- Carl

MacOne · #8 12-09-2007, 02:36 PM

ok..has the DA dropped charges on domestic abuse?

cdwjava · #9 12-09-2007, 02:49 PM

Quoting MacOne

ok..has the DA dropped charges on domestic abuse?

Some have, sure. But since most victims recant, many do not because they want to give time for the victim to come to his or her senses.

Some DAs will drop with any sign of a rough patch in the case, others will prosecute so long as they have a chance at all. I have no idea what the DA handling your companion's case will do.

- Carl

MacOne · #10 12-09-2007, 04:11 PM

OK..his court date is early at 8.30 am..would you happen to know what time the DAs office is open?