My ex-husband is in jail for beating up his current wife and her child, and I want to help her in court since I went through the same thing 10 years ago. He beat me up, but somehow got the charges dismissed. I don’t have contact with her, but I want to help because he’s a danger to her and her kids. Any advice on how I can testify or be involved?
You should reach out to the prosecutor’s office. They might want your testimony, especially if it’s relevant to his history of abuse. Stay safe, though, and maybe avoid contacting his wife directly.
Hannah said:
You should reach out to the prosecutor’s office. They might want your testimony, especially if it’s relevant to his history of abuse. Stay safe, though, and maybe avoid contacting his wife directly.
Thanks! I’ve reached out to the DA, just waiting to hear back. I definitely won’t reach out to her directly, but I’m trying to support her through her friend.
If you haven’t seen the recent abuse, you might not be able to testify about it. However, you could be a collateral witness for the violence he committed against you. Talk to the DA and see if they’re interested in your testimony.
@Eliana
My daughter witnessed the abuse, and his mother knows too. Hoping we can all help!
You can offer to be a character witness during sentencing. It might help with his case.
Sam said:
You can offer to be a character witness during sentencing. It might help with his case.
Good idea! I hadn’t thought of that.
Be careful—this could get messy if his wife decides to stay with him. I’ve seen people go back to their abusers, and it can lead to them turning against anyone trying to help.
Lyric said:
Be careful—this could get messy if his wife decides to stay with him. I’ve seen people go back to their abusers, and it can lead to them turning against anyone trying to help.
Yeah, that’s a risk I’m aware of… hoping she finally sees that he won’t change.
Talk to the DA and see what they say. You could provide valuable background info. Just be prepared for tough questions from his lawyer trying to discredit you.
Quinn said:
Talk to the DA and see what they say. You could provide valuable background info. Just be prepared for tough questions from his lawyer trying to discredit you.
I’ve been through it before in the custody battle. I’ll be ready for whatever they throw at me. Thanks for the heads-up!