Thanks everyone for all your support and kind words. I had a 'buddy' in Court with me and she made notes during the case. She has written what is below. Mark - the Judge was a young female - I don't think she had much experience - I think I would have faired better with an old codger!
I think it is very important to remember that the judge did not decide that the defendants were right or that you were wrong Den. She has decided that on a balance of probabilities, she could not agree that it was the defendant's dog who caused the injury. A lot in your case depended on personal statements; yours and the defendant's - there was no direct witnesses, beside you and your son. But you have conducted yourself brilliantly; you were calm, collected and dignified. You were well prepared - for a lay person, whilst we know what an almighty fluffybanana-up was caused by the defendant's solicitors (it was un-bloody-believable- the solicitors write a defence which basically destroyed defendant's case that they haven't got a dog! But sadly, the judge let it pass- as the case was not really about that).
Whilst I understand judge's hesitation which made her unable to find for den, i feel that it was a very disappointing outcome - achieved by defendant's shocking lies, bare-faced dishonesty, breathtaking and shameless porkies.
The judge opened by clarifying what she will deal with and what she will not. That meant that most of the witness statements, including huge chunks of Den's neighbour's statement were not considered. The judge then permitted documents which she did not see, which were submitted by the other party. She was very frustrated by the defendant's lack of preparedness, her solicitor's slackness- in my mind she has tried too hard to accommodate the defendant. Maybe she took one look at the gum-chewing, perpetually pregnant, hardly out of childhood herself, tracksuit clad , "innit" defendant and thought to herself: "disadvantaged person alert, better be extra nice, in case they torch my Lexus later on!"
OK. Bygones. We have gained new knowledge which may help in making the life for the defendant that little bit more difficult.
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