Participants in criminal proceedings
Answers are for parents and teachers.
1
In two columns write the participants on the defence side and the prosecution side.
Prosecution: prosecutor, victim, civil plaintiff. Defence: accused, defender, civil defendant.
2
Write the difference between a witness, a victim and an accused in 3 sentences.
A witness tells what he saw or knows. A victim is harmed by the crime. The accused is charged with committing the crime.
3
Why must participants be informed of their rights?
Because someone who does not know his rights cannot defend them; explaining them is a guarantee of a fair trial.
4
Why is a judge’s impartiality important? Write briefly.
Because a fair decision is made only by a judge who has no interest and treats both sides equally.
5
Fictional case: a witness “said” he saw something although he knew nothing about the case. What can this lead to?
False testimony may lead to liability and cause an unjust verdict.