What happens after the trial if you're a witness

Summary

At the end of the trial, the court will give the result - the defendant will be found guilty or not guilty. If they’re found guilty, the court will give them a sentence - this will happen either immediately after the trial or on another day. If you were a witness for the prosecution, the Witness Care Unit (or the police) will let you know the outcome of the trial. If the defendant was found guilty, the Witness Care Unit will also tell you the sentence and explain what it means. If you were a witness for the defence, you can contact the court or the defence lawyer who will let you know the outcome. If you were the victim of the crime, you can provide a statement at the hearing when the defendant is sentenced - if you want to. Making a statement will let you explain how the crime has affected you. The police will tell you more about making a statement and how to get support. Tell the police straight away. You can also ask the Witness Service to put you in touch with organisations for more help and support. If there’s an appeal against the sentence or conviction, it's very unlikely you'll have to be a witness again. If you do have to go back to court, someone from the Witness Service.

Key information

• •At the end of the trial, the court will give the result - the defendant will be found guilty or not guilty. If they’re found guilty, the court will give them a sentence - this will happen either immediately after the trial or on another day.
• •If you were a witness for the prosecution, the Witness Care Unit (or the police) will let you know the outcome of the trial. If the defendant was found guilty, the Witness Care Unit will also tell you the sentence and explain what it means.
• •If you were a witness for the defence, you can contact the court or the defence lawyer who will let you know the outcome.
• •If you were the victim of the crime, you can provide a statement at the hearing when the defendant is sentenced - if you want to. Making a statement will let you explain how the crime has affected you. The police will tell you more about making a statement and how to get support.
• •Tell the police straight away. You can also ask the Witness Service to put you in touch with organisations for more help and support.
• •If there’s an appeal against the sentence or conviction, it's very unlikely you'll have to be a witness again.
• •If you do have to go back to court, someone from the Witness Service can help you again. You can get help from the Witness Service on the Witness Service website.

Practical guidance

• •Source: [What happens after the trial if you're a witness](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/going-to-court-as-a-witness1/what-happens-after-the-trial/what-happens-after-the-trial-if-youre-a-witness/)

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