Legal Question in DUI Law in Massachusetts

do i have to appear in court as a witness?

ok i was driving home after work today and i observed the person driving in front of me throw a beer bottle out of there window and it almost hit my truck. I got rather annoyed and called the police and told them which way he was heading...well later that night i got a phone call from the police saying they arrested the person for minor in posession of alcohol...the police said i should be getting a summons to court to appear as a witness to him throwing out the beer bottle.. but come to find out the police told me his name and i work with this person!!! i doubt very much this person knows i called the cops on him and i dont want to have to appear in court in front of him for personal protection reasons...so my question is ...is there anyway i dont have to be visible to him in the courtroom? thank you


Asked on 5/19/06, 7:29 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Martha Kovner Law Offices of Martha J. Kovner

Re: do i have to appear in court as a witness?

No--unfortunately all defendants have the right to confront their witnesses. A charge like that is obviously not very serious--so most likely the case will be resolved short of a trial. Your name will most likely be mentioned though in the police report as a witness so the defendant will know that you were involved even if it does not go to a trial. Sorry.

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Answered on 5/19/06, 10:34 pm


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