Attended Court Session

Monday, 24/3/08 was the day that my eldest gal need to attend court, but it was not because she was in trouble. She was there as the plaintiff to 'press charges' on a few boys around her age who beat her up some time ago. I cannot remember if I did post on this matter regarding her being beaten up. But I know I was very angry with my hubby and his whole family because when my gal told them about this, strangely enough, the very first response that came out from their mouth was :" Very good! Serves you right, you deserve it!". How can they say this to her when it was all a misunderstanding that got her beaten up by those guys! Ok, they said I am too 'naive' to believe her words again but a person who's always lying doesn't mean she will lie every time, right?! Shouldn't they at least listen to what she has to say first before making this hurting comment? I was really pissed by them. So what if I am naive? So what if she lied to me again and I was 'tricked' into believing her again? At least I did what I should do at the time - by listening to what she says first and try to help or give advises where I can. Is that wrong? Stupid family! (*Sorry).

Anyway, we received the letter informing us the date and time for the session. My hubby accompanied her there. Before they went, she was a bit scared and worried and kept asking if she will be alright. So we made use of the chance to find out more (truth) by telling her that as long as the statement that she gave in the police station was the truth then of course she'll be fine but if she lied, then she will be found guilty as well and is 罪加一等！Upon hearing this, she then admitted that on the day she got beaten up she did sniffed glue again...we went further explaining things to her.

Before the judge gathers both parties (the plaintiff - in this case, us and the defendant) to have the trial, he called upon my hubby first. He wanted to know if he intended to sue those youngsters and explained that if he does, what the procedures will be like and that he may need to engage his own lawyer for the case. My hubby explained to the judge that he only wanted to 'scare' them and for the court to give them a serious warning so that they dare not do it again. Then the judge turn to my gal and asked if she has to and still want to be with those defendants (as friends) and if she can leave them. My gal replied she will not be with them again.

The judge was happy to hear those words from both my hubby and gal and called the defendants and their parents in when my hubby and gal went out.

The trial ended with the judge warning those youngsters not to repeat the same mistakes again and that this time they are lucky that we do not want to sue them but he cannot tell them for the same thing if it happens again and they will still be as lucky as this time, with us.

While on the way back, my hubby also made use of the chance to forewarn my gal that this time round she is the plaintiff and hope that she will not become one of the defendants in future. If she does, she will not be standing at the same corner as today but the other corner where the defendants stand and she may not be as lucky as well because others may sue her and not let her off so easily.

Hope she will remember this incident and try putting herself in those defendants' shoes to remind herself to be careful in what ever she wants/will do and say in future. *Pray*