• Accused:

The person charged with a criminal offence.

• Acquittal:

A formal direction or finding by the Court that the accused is not guilty for a crime which they were accused.

• Adjournment:

The temporary suspension or postponement of a court hearing.

• Affidavit:

A written statement from an individual which is sworn to be a statement of truth.

• Allegation:

An accusation or an  unproved statement declaring that something has happened.

• Appeal:

A legal process by which a case is brought before a higher court for a review to overturn the decision of a lower court.

• Bail:

The temporary release of a suspect or an accused person from custody, until his or her next appearance in court. This is sometimes subject to security being given and / or compliance with certain conditions such as periodically reporting to a police station.

• Bench:

A group of Magistrates who hear cases in the Magistrates’ Court.

• Charge:

A formal accusation against a person by the state.

• Conviction:

When an offender has pleaded or been found guilty of an offence in the outcome of a criminal prosecution, he or she is said to have been convicted.

• Cross-Examination:

The process by which the prosecution or the defence lawyer orally challenges the evidence given by a witness who has already testified in Court.

• Defendant:

A person charged with a criminal offence or a person whom a civil action is brought against.

• Jury:

A group of persons (usually 12) who review all the evidence in a court case and then make an impartial decision (verdict).

• Liable:

When someone is legally responsible or answerable for something, one’s actions or one’s omissions.

• Plaintiff:

A person who brings a legal case against someone else in a court of law.

• Prima Facie:

A Latin term used to describe something that appears on the face of it to be true.

• Pro Bono:

A Latin term for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment.

• Pursuant:

A word used mainly when something is in accordance with a particular law or ruling.