Even though you might be upset or nervous about the situation, emotional outbursts will not help your case.Once you have finished giving evidence, the police prosecutor can cross-examine you.You can then have a chance to clarify after the police prosecutor has finished cross-examining you.You call each of your witnesses to come before the court to answer your questions. You could decide to only cross-examine the police witnesses to try and raise a reasonable doubt in the magistrate's mind.If you decide not to give evidence, you can question the police and the police witnesses about the evidence they have provided. Do not plead guilty until you fully understand the police version of events and have received legal advice. Write it down and take your notes to court — see the information the court may want to hear in the sample If drug or alcohol problems were one of the reasons you offended, it is a good idea to arrange counselling.Counselling helps you with your drug or alcohol problems and shows the magistrate you are serious about not reoffending.You should start counselling before you plead guilty or tell the court you are prepared to go to counselling.If you have started counselling, take a letter from your counsellor or social worker that explains the counselling you are receiving. This will help you to feel more confident when your court date arrives.Your name is called. It is a crime to give false evidence.All witnesses must wait outside until they are called. If you do not have the partial brief of evidence when you go to the committal callover, the prosecutor may provide you with it at court. You, or the duty lawyer acting for you, will be able to tell the magistrate about your personal circumstances. Do not plead guilty until you fully understand the police version of events and have received legal advice.If you plead guilty, the court will hear a summary of the police evidence only.You, or the duty lawyer acting for you, will be able to tell the magistrate about your personal circumstances.The magistrate will then decide what penalty you will get.If you have been charged with drug offences and you are willing to plead guilty, you may be able to complete a diversion program as an alternative to another penalty.Take these steps to plead guilty after the police have charged you with an offence:The police officer writes down their version of your alleged offence in a document called a QP9.
This means you or your witness must give your evidence on the day of your hearing.Make two copies of any documents or exhibits you want to use. It is important you understand exactly what you are being charged with and the police's version of events.By pleading guilty, you are agreeing to the police's version of events.If you disagree with any of the police details about your offence, you must tell the duty lawyer or the police prosecutor.You need to get legal advice about how to prepare for court and your likely penalty, even if you will represent yourself on the day.Think about what you want to say in court. If you plead guilty, the court will hear a summary of the police evidence only. They will ask:If both parties are ready to proceed, the magistrate will confirm the hearing date and may direct that any outstanding material be delivered to you.Here is a checklist of things you should do before the hearing.You need to get legal advice once you have received a copy of the brief of evidence.You need to know what the police must prove in court. The offender levy isn’t part of the court’s sentence; it’s a separate levy applied by the Queensland Government. How do I plead not guilty? If the magistrate does not agree, the trial will proceed as normal.When giving evidence, it is important to make sure what you say is relevant and to the point. You should not ask leading questions that suggest the answer.