Witness Care interpreter used in crown court trial
I was called directly by Snarebrook Crown Court yesterday morning to interpret for a trial which would last for 2 days. When I arrived, there was already an interpreter who was booked by Witness Care service. Apparently the defence counsel used her in the consultation with his client (not knowing that she was not booked by the court) and for this reason the court decided to use this interpreter for the trial, not the NRPSI interpreter they themselves booked directly.
I then spoke to the Listings Office, explaining the situation, they were aghast and said never before an interpreter for Witness Care service was used as the official interpreter in a crown court trial.
