I have been told I have to appear in court in spain - i have been denounced - do i have to go?

Question

my mum lives in spain - her neighbour says i pushed her - which i didn't - but anyway now i'm back in uk, will i have to turn up - what happens if i dont turn up?

Answer 1

If you don't go, they will side with whoever wants you there in the first place. So if you are guilty, don't go. It won't matter anyway and this way they have to catch you first.

Answer 2

it is a criminal offence not to turn up.  you should go.  living in the uk is no excuse. they will pick you up upon re entry to spain if you ever go back.  it will be fine. it is just a hearing.  get a lawyer it will be fine.  just getsomeone to defend you.  if you don't show up she will win by default

Answer 3

I would suggest you go to court if only to be able to go back to your mums any time you want because your mums neighbor will probably grass on you if she sees you there, unless your mum can get her to withdraw the accusation

Going to court in any country is not nice let alone in a foreign one but you will have your say on the matter.

In all probability you will end up with a small fine, depending on the injuries she claims to have sustained.

If you do not go to court an arrest will be issued which you may get away with but if your passport is scanned at the airport you may be picked up by the police and have to spend the night in a cell and will still have to appear in court the next day

Good luck

Anna

PS

My son in law was on holiday here in Spain, his passport was scanned and he was not allowed on the plane, he was taken to Torremolinos police station where they kept him overnight and he had to appear before the court the next day. This was all because when he lived here 4 years previously he did not turn up for a minor traffic offense. The case was thrown out of court because it was for an offense which was 4 yrs old.

So the moral of this story is, it may take some time for the system to catch people but they do.

Answer 4

The easiest way is to have your mother´s neighbour drop the charges o "retirar la denuncia" then there will be no court or anything. To do that you should talk to your mum and most probably ask for her neighbour to excuse you, apologizing, even if the charge is not true, takes quite little time and is much better than going to Spain just to appear in court, or not replying and having a record. You can also negotiate some kind of reparation to avoid going to court and settle before time. She just has to drop the charges which is as easy as going to the comisaria where she presnted them and saying that she wants to retirar la denuncia.

G.Luck

S

Answer 5

Theoretically they could probably get you for something if they identify you at the border when you enter the country.  But this will almost certainly not happen, as they don't scan passports or do much of anything when you enter the country except give a quick look at your passport.  (It couldn't be more different than if you were to enter the US in a similar situation -- here things have turned really strict).

Answer 6

They'll probably get a warrant out for your arrest and at any time in the future when you fly to Spain they'll pick you up!...  Unless you have no plans to ever returning to Spain i suggest you go to court... Just go and get it over with!

Answer 7

don't go.

Answer 8

Basically, you'll get arrested if you go back to Spain.

But they're not going to extradite you.

Answer 9

as people have said above, it depends if you want to return to spain or not..........

the likelyhood of them 'scanning' your passport at the airport is nothing,

but its the fact that when you are in spain if you go to see your  mum and have any problems (car accident,fight,drunkeness etc..) and the police get involved it will not be good that it shows up on your record as not attending court.......................and if theyre is any discussion as to who is at blame in the first place you will be blanmed, for the fightt,car accidnet, drunkeness etc.............

so it up to you at the end of the day,

i personnally would go and state my case, especially if I did NOT do it(push her or whatver.......)