1. Is it possible to lose the case and not have a criminal record ?
2. Can I travel overseas ? ( If not, for how long )
3. What other negative impacts will it have ? besides work related.
1) No. You will have a criminal record
2) You need a passport. What are the passport requirements in New Zealand? See more on this below.
3) Look out if you have another brush with the law, then your next sentence will be a lot worse. This is no small thing. Crimes of violence are considered the worst.
A tourist does not need a background check from the FBI to travel to the USA. As long as you can get a passport from your country and are not on the USA terrorist watch list, you can visit the USA. The FBI background check comes into play if you want a visa for work, student, or immigration. Typically, you can be a tourist for up to 90 days.
Since you are from Australia, you do not even need a visa. Currently, 27 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program, as shown below:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/withou..._1990.html#countries
Visa Waiver Program - Participating Countries.
Andorra Iceland Norway
Australia Ireland Portugal
Austria Italy San Marino
Belgium Japan Singapore
Brunei Liechtenstein Slovenia
Denmark Luxembourg Spain
Finland Monaco Sweden
France the Netherlands Switzerland
Germany New Zealand United Kingdom
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However, at your port of entry, you will be asked if you have a criminal record. You choices are to:
a) say no, and trust they will not check or find out. You have a good chance that this will be ok
b) Say yes, you have a record, and then they will require that you get a visa, which will have a background check.
If you need a visa…
If you do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program you will need to apply for one at your nearest Embassy or Consulate.
There are several steps you need to follow:
* Locate a U.S. Embassy or Consulate
* Ask about specific processes, requirements, fees, and make an appointment
* Attend the appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with all requirements and fees along with ITS America’s invitation letter
* Obtain the visa
Unpaid Fines Could Stop you Travelling Overseas
From 28 September 2006 if you owe reparation, or your fines are overdue, you could be stopped from arriving or departing any New Zealand international airport. For more information call the Ministry of Justice on 0800 PAYORSTAY (0800 729 677) or visit
www.payorstay.govt.nz.
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Crimes of violence have the biggest impact on getting jobs.
Basically you are screwed, because they brought witnesses and you did not. Their witnesses will actually remember events as the discussed them, and not as they actually happened. That is the way human memory often works. You need to find the other witnesses, and find out what they have to say. You need to hire a private eye to talk to all the opposition witnesses and witnesses that you do not personally know. You cannot do this yourself without harming your case. The cost will be small compare to what this whole case will cost you, now and life long.
Your defense is self defense. He came to you and threatened you. You felt in dire dange from him and his friends. One against many. (You could not rely on your friend to defend you or become involved, which they did not.) Then his friends came to you and attacked you. You acted to "stop the threat." You need to learn self-defense law.
You are right about your attorney. Forget the honorable TV show lawyers. Your lawyer's real job is to screw you out of as much money as possible and do as little work as possible. He is very willing to lose your case if it will earn him a higher hourly rate, so he can get on with screwing the next guy.
Run a background check on your accuser. You need know everything you can. For example, in the USA, criminal records are public records. 7 Public Records That Should Always Be Included In A Background In People Search USA
These records may contain critical background and history information about the subject. Each and every one of the public records listed should be checked to ensure a thorough and complete
background in people search USA.
1. Court Records
2. Vital Statistic Records
3. Conviction Records
4. Driving Records
5. Arrest Records
6. Property Records
7. Sex Offender Registry Records
