Ian and solicitor transcript

picture of Solicitor

Solicitor

Ian, please take a seat. Thanks for coming in I just needed to sit down with you to check things out before we go to court next week. First of all I need to confirm that you are tendering a plea of guilty to all of the charges.

picture of Ian

Ian

What else can I do, I don't know what is happening to me I mean I have never hurt anybody before. Will she be alright I mean Shavita, just think only a year ago things where so different. Happily married, great kids getting on well with the job ok it was unravelling a bit even then I will grant you, but just look at it now.

picture of Solicitor

Solicitor

Ok let's just take it one step at a time.

picture of Ian

Ian

Sorry you want to talk about the accident and all these charges I have got now, dangerous driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, endangering life and that bus stop too, it's just a nightmare, I can hardly remember a thing about that night. I just woke up in hospital the next day, but how is the woman I hit down is she going to be ok?

picture of Solicitor

Solicitor

I believe she has got a broken nose and a lot of bruising; she was discharged from hospital last week though she will need some plastic surgery on her nose. I think from what I have read in the witness statement she is very lucky that she did not come of a lot worse, I'm afraid the bus stop wasn't so lucky and it has been completely demolished and will have to be replaced, its likely a compensation order will be sought and your alcohol count was very high.

picture of Ian

Ian

Look I don't need you to lecture me on my morals ok, I am pleading guilty, you aren't going to make me feel any worse than I do already. I have got no choice but to plead guilty, isn't that what you have more or less told me, how bad is it going to be for me?

picture of Solicitor

Solicitor

During our last meeting you asked me for my advice on the basis of the statements and the blood alcohol reading, the evidence against you is very strong. You told me you had been drinking you where upset and you had taken the corner to fast.

picture of Ian

Ian

Of course you are right guilty it is, but surely not to the endangering life charge that is just asking for them to throw the whole book at me. Do you think you could do a deal with the PF and get that charge dropped?

picture of Solicitor

Solicitor

I don't know, but I will obviously speak with the fiscal. Maybe the woman's speedy recovery might help with this provided we agree to the guilty charge and all the other counts, so we are agreed on that then, let's move on then. We have also got that other charge of the breach of the interdict coming up. I've got to present a plea in mitigation of sentence so I need to hear a bit about what led up to this, so lets just think about that.

picture of Ian

Ian

I just can't think, I am missing my wife and children, I am living on my own, I just get upset, that leads to me drinking more than I should and I just, I don't know go a bit crazy I suppose, jump in my car and before I know it I am hammering at the door and I hear her yelling, go away and I sort of go wild and start shouting at her and next thing I know the police grab me from behind is it a crime to want to see your own wife and your kids, how long is it since I last saw them?

picture of Solicitor

Solicitor

Yes Ian ok but it is most definitely an offence and you know it and the court knows it and the court are treating domestic violence very seriously so you can't plead ignorance of the law you need to acknowledge the seriousness of what you did. You can plead desperation or loneliness or the urge to be a good father and partner it may help but I certainly could not guarantee it.

picture of Ian

Ian

Will that work with the other driving charges though?

picture of Solicitor

Solicitor

Well unless there are any other reasons I don't know about that might convince the court, no? Well I will do what I can to find something along these lines. As a solicitor though it is my duty to warn you that you are not likely to get a lot of sympathy and you could even face a prison sentence, looks like you are in serious trouble, not my business of course but have you ever thought about contacting social work services?

picture of Ian

Ian

Are you kidding, they will do nothing for me they will just see me as the bad guy in the piece and start lecturing me. The last time I was interviewed by them after the dispute between Shavita and me ok, assault! I felt I was being though of as I had been thought of as someone who would hurt his own children.

picture of Solicitor

Solicitor

Well just think about the problems that you are facing now, social services will probably be asked to do a report before sentence and I think it may be in your best interest to make the first move. I have to say the amount of alcohol in your system was very high and you are saying yourself that you are finding life very difficult. Going to see them could be very helpful and who knows they might be able to help out far more than you know. Yes I know how you felt about their last visit but it is their job to make sure that the children are safe. I am beginning to think the best thing to ask the court to consider would be probation, look that would ensure that you get support and you clearly need this, but it would also lessen the likelihood of you being imprisoned. Please just think about it that is all I am asking. I am sorry but I am due in court and I have to go now.

Back to top