Criminal defendants In a criminal trial, a defendant is a person accused (charged) of committing an offense (a crime; an act defined as punishable under criminal law). The other party to a criminal trial is usually a public prosecutor, but in some jurisdictions, private prosecutions are allowed.
Criminal defendants In a criminal trial, a defendant is a person accused (charged) of committing .an offense (a crime; an act defined as punishable under criminal law). The other party to a criminal trial is usually a public prosecu?tor, but in some jurisdictions, private prosecutions are allowed.