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Thread ID: 91623 2008-07-13 04:11:00 summons to court markh (12164) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
688463 2008-07-13 04:11:00 if you get a summons to appear in court as a witness, do all you have to do is appear in court? And once you appear, do you have to answer questions or can you just appear and say no comment to any question they ask u? markh (12164)
688464 2008-07-13 05:35:00 Think about it a little - you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

No comment should not be an option in that scenario.
dvm (6543)
688465 2008-07-13 06:17:00 No comment 99% of the time makes you look guilty. rob_on_guitar (4196)
688466 2008-07-13 06:22:00 if you get a summons to appear in court as a witness, do all you have to do is appear in court? And once you appear, do you have to answer questions or can you just appear and say no comment to any question they ask u?

Common sense would suggest that there is not a whole lot of point being summonsed to court and swearing on the Holy Bible to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth and only offering up a "No comment...Duh!" as your only explanation....:rolleyes: Unless you want to be thrown in the clink for obstructing the course of Justice, besides I don't think you can "plead the 5th amendment" in this country...?

The short answer - when summonsed - you are legally obliged to turn up in person and answer the questions truthfully.
vitalstatistix (9182)
688467 2008-07-13 08:01:00 Something bad happens.
There's a victim and a perpetrator.
You want the perpetrator to get away with it?
How would you feel if you were the victim and the witness wouldn't say anything?
pctek (84)
688468 2008-07-13 08:34:00 The short answer - when summonsed - you are legally obliged to turn up in person and answer the questions truthfully.

This is correct - and "legally obliged" means that you will be committing an offence if you don't turn up at the date and time stated on the summons.

As for answering "no comment" - well, I imagine that you would be held in contempt of Court if you tried pissing off a judge that much...
Deane F (8204)
688469 2008-07-13 08:52:00 No comment 99% of the time makes you look guilty.

just ask Tony.
allblack (6574)
688470 2008-07-13 09:09:00 Common sense would suggest that there is not a whole lot of point being summonsed to court and swearing on the Holy Bible to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth and only offering up a "No comment...Duh!" as your only explanation....:rolleyes: Unless you want to be thrown in the clink for obstructing the course of Justice, besides I don't think you can "plead the 5th amendment" in this country...?

The short answer - when summonsed - you are legally obliged to turn up in person and answer the questions truthfully.

But in a court you do not get to tell the whole truth as you think you know it. Hearsay evidence will not be admitted for example.

And you can also say, "I don't remember." Or, "I don't know." Or, "I have no recollection of the event(s)" and etc.

You can also not elaborate by answering questions with a simple yes or no answer.

It depends on the question you get asked.
Sweep (90)
688471 2008-07-13 09:11:00 Well in court you would have a lawyer or crown prosicutor asking you the questions, so it would depend on how they put the question to you. vitalstatistix (9182)
688472 2008-07-13 09:17:00 Swearing on a bible is a funny practise too i rekon. Why swear on an old story book? rob_on_guitar (4196)
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