Hi there
Your case seems to be building well. I just want to mention that any evidence that you wish to rely upon in court must be lodged with the court and copies provided to the other side. Was there an interim order made at the last hearing giving any directions, such as providing further statements and dates to do so? If not I think as long as you file your evidence within a week or so of the hearing that should be ok....as long as you also provide the other party with copies at the same time.
I've found some info about recording and using that evidence in court that might be relevant to you....
http://www.transparencyproject.org.uk/guidance-on-parents-recording-meetings-with-social-workers/
http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed160225
As far as your question about paying half, unless the court orders that you share costs there's no compulsion for you to do so, I would just write back and thank them for the police report but say as there are no directions for you to cover their costs you would politely decline, you could mention that you have covered all of your own costs entirely and you would expect that to work both ways.
I was advised that I can decline paying for this so I did. The ex solicitor wrote to the court asking the court to make a decision. Will update you on that one.. Also regarding electronic/ media evidence the court clerk advise there are DVD players but its the judge discretion whether to use it or if you need to get the data transcribed. I will also update you on that one.
Hi guys. Yet another update. So my ex solicitors decided to write to the court and ask the court for a direction for me to pay the monies she wanted and also objecting to me submitting media evidence. I composed a letter the next day and emailed to the court why I think its unfair for me to pay and why I should be allowed to submit my electronic evidence and have it played in the court via DVD and cd at the fact finding hearing. Well the judge made a ruling and I won this little battle. I will not have to pay 50% of her transcripts and I am allowed to submit the Video Evidence but I will have to get the recorded audio transcribed by an approved court transcriber. The judge will then decide whether they have any relevance and can be used at the fact finding hearing on the day of the hearing.
I will continue to keep you posted.
Thank you for the update and good luck with it all. Great to hear judges do see sense. Keep us updated and let us know if we can help at all 🙂
Hi guys. I won. Two days fact finding hearing finished few hrs ago. The judge found all except one in my favour. I will update you guys further when next to a computer.
Boom! another great result well done ! Be sure to fill us all in on what happened and it'll give other dads hope.
Nice one man
Slim 🙂
Hi Conbee, that's amazing news, thanks for sharing. I look forward to hearing more on this. Well done 🙂
Well done, as already said keep us posted
.
GTTS
Fantastic! Can't wait to hear more about your success... Its such a great motivation for others to hear positive stories, well done!
Hi Guy. Sorry sorry for the late response. Some of you already know the background of my situation. Well I had my fact finding hearing and it was listed for two days. With the help and support of you guys I self represented myself through this process until I got to the fact finding hearing . On the first day my ex was cross examined. She was very agitated will not allow my Barrister to finish her questions. Her personality was there in the open. The judge stepped in and told my ex to calm down and let my Barrister finish her question before she said anything.
My Barrister did a great job. My ex partner kept lying on trying to make me out to be a monster. Then when my Barrister start getting her crossed up by asking her the same question in a different way 15 mins after the first time she asked it. At this point the judge stepped in and addressed my ex because of the different answers she kept giving. I was painful to watch as I found myself feeling sorry for her.
On the second day I was cross examined by her Barrister and I was honest polite and I admitted where I knew I did wrong. At one point the judge even stepped in on my behalf. This was when my ex barrister asked me a question and I answered with the same answer I give earlier because all he did was rephrased the question . He tried to make out I give two different accounts I said no I am telling you the facts. Her Barrister said no I am forgetting and not forth coming with the truth, then the judge stepped in and told him off for trying to put words in my mouth because on the judge's notes I did give the same answer.
At the end of it all after two long days the judge made his rulings. All allegations were unfounded based on the accounts that were given to the court and the evidence I submitted with my statement. He one allegation that remained was the one where I admitted I was wrong.
The great thing was also the social services attended the hearing for the two days so they go to see all the lies my ex have been talking and instead of cafcass they will be making the report for the final hearing. The court made a direction based on my innocence that day. Ladies and gentlemen after 361.5 days I finally spent some time with my little miss and my handsome prince yesterday the 10th of June. My children were 4 and 3 when I last saw them. they are now 5 and 4 and they have grown soo much. It was the one of the greatest moment of my life seeing them yesterday.
My heart is filled with joy but also with pain. You see my son has changed. He is no longer the strong confident loud happy little boy. His voice has gone soo soft. He didn't even recognised me. when I entered the room he just looked and me and turned away. My daughter did the same thing. My eyes were filled with tears. After 10 minutes I knelt in front my daughter held her hands and I did something I did to her everyday since she was born. You see she her nose is almost the same feature as mine, so I use to always take my nose and rubbed it against her nose and say "hey princess your nose is just like daddy's nose" and that's when It happened. She hold my cheeks looked me in the eyes her eyes brighten and then massive smile as if to say I remember you. From then on she was jumping on my back playing and laughing with me and it was great. I tried the same with my son and although he came around slightly I can see the hurt in his eyes as if he is mad at me.
What gave me hope was when the time was up and I had to leave he looked at me and said "bye daddy"gave me a hug but still with a sad face. It was hurtful to see and painful speaking about it but this is what a mother can put innocent children through to try and hurt someone because the relationship broke down. Then gets legal aid to back her lies while I work two jobs 15 hrs a day to make the money to get a barrister to help me. I will be seeing my babies for two days next week and then maybe three days a week until the final hearing on the 28th August.
Light at the end of the tunnel. The beginning of the end. I plan to make a short video and share with a few of the entire process from beginning to end. You will hear from me after the final Hearing. Thanks for all your help thus far.
Regards
Conbee
This is fantastic news Conbee!
It can seem that the courts will believe all the lies, but more often than not the y see through it...I'm so glad this was the case for you!
It's no consolation, but your children are still very young and this last year will soon become a fading memory for them...children are so resilient and with your love and care they will get over this. You and your children have many happy times to look forward to and you will feel a sense of pride that you fought for their right to have both parents involved in their lives.
You still have the final hearing to go through but I would say you're home and dry now....it's been tough but not long now and you too can put the past year behind you and plan for a future for you and your little ones.
The video sounds like a great idea and I'm looking forward to it....well done we are all right behind you!
Hi Guys Just wanted to update you. I have Full custody of my children. I've had custody since the 1st July. Once I was proven innocent at the fact finding everything started to unravel itself. My Ex is no where to be see since they started investigating deeper into her affairs. The social services failed my children because they believed everything that she was saying for over a year. My babies were subjected to the most horrid verbal and physical abuse by the hands of my ex and her partner. They lived in horrible conditions were kept indoors 24/7 and even sometimes my autistic daughter and my 4 year old son were locked in the house on their own.
I am at a lost as to how to take them to task for simply believing everything that she said and not doing some back ground checks on her and completely ignoring everything i was saying. Even the neighbors where she lived have made statements. The only thing I get from the social services is "she pulled the wool over everyone's eyes as she seemed very vulnerable.
All that is said and done the children now lives with me and they are very happy. I finally returned to work today after 7 weeks off unpaid while my mom just left her job to look after the children for me. The Ex is nowhere to be seen or no one have heard from her. I still have a final hearing for the 25th. Seeing that she didn't show up at the last hearing I dont think she will be showing up at this one.
Big thank you to all of you guys. I will be on hand to help anyone who now needs a helping hand.