Criminal question:

my friend has been charged on a section 18 he went for his case management and plea entry only to find that his solicitor had adjourned his case without corresponding with him.. I have done some checking upnand the solicitors handling his case are not very highly rated. Is it easy to change solicitors once they have started handling a case? The communication is extremely poor between client and firm in this instance. Also on this particular charge is there bounfd to be a custodial sentence, eeven though the wounding with a knife was used in self defence. A man was brought into my friends home by my friends then girlfriend. He wanted to have sexual intercourse but the girl said no.The couple did however go upstairs to the bedroom, during this time my friend was hiding and recording some of the conversation on his mobile phone. He left his hiding place and went to the bedroom. His ex girlfriend and the man started to have sex but the girl protested sayinfg she did not want the act to continue. My friend entered the room and junped on the guys back. They grappled and then my friend found a knife under a pillow. The reason for the knife being there was that the girl slept with it although at my friends house. she has alcohol and drug problems and suffered a bad assault in the past. The two men grappled and my friend thought that this guy was going to kill him, so he grabbed the knife and randomly waved it about. He did however stab the guy in the head and there were also some superficial cuts to his body, the guys' not my friend.. My friend was charged and is currently tagged and on curfew.. I would appreciate any advice on changing solicitors and also the likely outcome of the case. Yours Sincerely. Patricia.

posted in Criminal | 1 response

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Responses:

Andrew Morris' response

Hi There - you can make an application to transfer Legal Aid in the Crown Court if there has been a breakdown in communication or for any other substantial reason. Depending on whether the guidelines are met for a transfer, this may be one option. It is unusual for a solicitor to adjourn a PCMH without his client's consent and the client should have some concern as to whether this solicitor is properly communicating with his client.

I am happy to give some advice about the likely outcome but best to do this by telephone or email if you contact me directly.

Regards

Andrew