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Re: Monika Panufnik
l am a Barrister practising at the Criminal Bar on the North Eastern circuit of England and
Wales and between 6th- 9'h January inclusive t was defending a Polish National on an
alIegation of rape in a jury trial at Newcastle- upon Tyne Crown Court before His Honour
Judge MiIford Q.C.
Miss panufnik was the interpreter and her job was to interpret from English to Polish and
vice versa so that the Defendant, who spoke little or no English could understand the
proceedings and so that the legal process and the court couId run smoothly.
The case was factually very complex indeed and highly emotionally charged because the
aIlegations were being made by the Defendant's Polish wife who complained of multiple
takings of her against her will by the Defendant over a 9 month period and also of beatings
by the Defendant in front of their children. His wife spoke fluent English and was very
plausible indeed and this made the Defendant's plight much worse.
Miss Panufnik's role out of court was to assist me in eommunicating with the Defendant so
then l could get his instructions to enable me to put his case and this involved her sitting
with me for lengthy periods to understand the case she was dealing with and also coming to
the court cells with me to speak at length with the Defendant.
ln couń, her role was to interpret everything. The atmosphere was very tense anyway but
the judge who is a highIy experienced and quite formidable persona|ity intensified (by his
characteristics)the atmosphere further. He also expected longer-than-normal daily sittings
so that the case did not overrun and interfer with his sitting at the Court of Appeal in the
following week.
Examination and cross-examination of the CompIainant and the Defendant involved Iong
spells of intensive questioning in court with hardly a break.
Thus the days were long and the work intense and high|y charged.
lt could not have been a more difficult setting but Miss Panufnik showed exceptional and
extraordinary ski!l and expertise as an interpreter.
l have 36 years experience as a Barrister and l must saythat ! have not seen anyone do a
better job of interpreting than she. Moreover, the pace of the trial was not perceptively any
slower than if all parties had spoken only English.
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