criminal trial

A criminal trial is a legal process to determine the guilt or innocence of a person accused of a crime. The law of criminal procedure governs how suspected offenders are apprehended, charged, and tried, as well as how penalties are imposed and challenged.1

In many legal systems, trials involve judges and sometimes juries. In Anglo-American law, a judge presides, rules on evidence, and instructs the jury on the law, while the jury determines the verdict. In contrast, continental European systems often feature a judge who actively investigates facts and questions witnesses.1

The prosecution bears the burden of proof, meaning they must present sufficient evidence to convince the judge or jury of the defendant's guilt. If doubts remain, the defendant cannot be found guilty. The process typically includes pretrial matters, presentation of evidence through witness testimony and cross-examination, and closing arguments before a verdict is reached.2345