10 • I was calm and determined to give my testimony. For the remaining respondents who had prior court experience, they describe if and how it was different from past experience. Here are some examples: • • • • My previous testimony was in a free atmosphere but this time I was watched by government agents. This was a political case and I was afraid to testify in front of the perpetrators. There was no difference. Yes. It was different. The former court did not have lawyers like this one. This made me feel threatened. As regards the victims’ feelings about the judges, Table 4 indicates a broad spread of different feelings. Most of the sample felt that the judges were indifferent to them during their testimony. Table 4. Feelings about the judges’ attitudes. How did you feel about Percentage the judge’s attitude towards you? Helpful 27% Friendly 18% Hostile 12% Indifferent 42% Judge James DeVittie was described equally among respondents as being helpful, friendly, or indifferent. Judge Vernanda Ziyambi was described by three respondents as helpful, five felt that she was friendly, and 14 felt that she was indifferent. However, five of the respondents felt that she was hostile to them. Twenty-nine respondents felt that they were given enough time in court, four felt that they had too much, and eight, who all testified in Ziyambi’s court, felt that they had too little. Here are their explanations: • • • • • • • I was cut off by the judge before I had finished. The judge adjourned and did not call me again the following day. I couldn't explain other incidents that took place. I wasn't given adequate time to explain. I was not able to say all I wanted in detail; the respondent's lawyers said there was no time. I was not given time to give details because the judge kept saying " Stick to the question”. I was not able to give a detailed account of what happened because the respondent asked his lawyer to ask me no further questions. My advocate only allowed me to only relate personal experience. I would have been much happier if I had been allowed relating what the constituency brought to me. I didn't say all what I wanted to say. The issue of time was also a possible factor affecting the victims’ attitudes to the court process, and, as can be seen from Table 5 below, most of these victims felt that they had had sufficient time for their testimony. Heroism in the Dock: Does testifying help victims of organised violence and torture? A pilot study from Zimbabwe.