Hey Jo, my son is a Pilot in the RAF. He was arrested on Sat…

Hey Jo, apologies for the extended "radio silence" I'd gone to bed when your answer arrived, I squinted at it in the dark with no glasses...... typing an answer was too hard......

Michael will freely confirm the reason he put it up his jumper WAS for the express purpose of concealing it - from her boyfriend. He wanted them both to be able to leave the immediate area anonymously so he could help her find her money.....

Please could you advise from here:

1.) Why you think the Police haven't charged him yet??

2.) Is it likely to drag on in this same status i.e. "pending further investigation" after the first bail date of Oct 8th??

3.) You mention the Crown Court option if it goes to trial, what's the alternative, and why is that less appealing??

4.) Typically how long would it be to a trial??

5.) Do you think it's worth involving professional legal assistance now, to potentially avoid this getting that far?? Or would it be best to let it run it's course, and then react??

6.) Ultimately if it comes down to "balance of probability" the odds are in his favour??

I much appreciate your assistance, you have been most helpful.

Best Regards.
Chris.

For Jo C, Hey Jo, the page isn't giving me the option to rate, only reply?? The previous had two tabs, one rate, one reply, this last one just has the reply....

For Jo C.

I'm not clear what she's denying - I do know she's claimed not to know Mike from Adam...... We are hopeful CCTV will verify Mikes explanation.

Your thoughts on my questions??

For Jo C.

Thank you. I'm in New Zealand. Please are you able to recommend the Best criminal lawyer in the St Athan region of North Wales?? Or from wherever he/she needs to come from??

For Jo C.

Thank you Jo.

For Jo C

Hey Jo, thanks again for your comprehensive answer. I've suggested Mike defer to the lawyer whom you recommended, he has contacted them. They've advised that it's highly likely the police will charge him, preferring to leave it to the courts to decide on guilt of innocence. They have advised him to wait to see if he is charged, and then they will formulate their defence. I was hoping they may be able to intervene now and avoid that lengthy process. I guess that's not to say that charges could be dropped prior to it reaching court?? I would have thought that to go ahead and charge him, they would be looking for more than 50-50 on securing a conviction, otherwise they are wasting court time simply throwing everyone through it regardless of the likely outcome?? Seems all smoke and mirrors to me....

For Jo C

Thanks Jo. We are hoping that the CCTV footage shows Mike talking to her, trying to fix her watch, showing that she did in fact have her bag with her as he says, and that she couldn't have had it taken from the dance floor, also showing that she willingly gave it up to him to help her find her money. Also, that within 10 minutes of all this happening, she claimed never to have seen Mike before....

I would submit, based on that evidence, should it prove to exist, that she maybe in fact an unreliable witness, and her account cannot be relied upon..... but his can.... That would put an entirely different complexion on things wouldn't you agree??

For Jo C.

Thanks Jo. I guess my point, at the risk of labouring it, is that Mike didn't speak with her "earlier." She has said her bag was taken on the dance floor. If the CCTV footage of their encounter exists, it was after management had stopped the music, raised the lights and ushered patrons out into the exterior courtyard in an effort to start closing the venue. Clearly if she had her bag with her then, it wasn't lost on the dance floor as she has said. Also, Mike was trying to help her fix her watch and find her money, 10 minutes later she's told the police she's never seen him before.... If she is observed to be a willing participant in handing the bag over, and following him out, that has to have a massive bearing on who's account is accurate??? In the absence of any other account, be it witness testimony or video footage, it's a case of "he said, she said" but if he's there, her bag is there.... I fail to see how I'm overplaying it's importance. I would also expect anyone representing him to use every morsal of evidence to help!!!

Hey Jo, for your information, the CPS dropped the charge against Mike on December 5th 2013.

Best Regards.
Chris.