Participants in Criminal Proceedings
Suspect, defendant, the accused person (general term: defendant) = person being accused of the criminal offence (is a party to criminal proceedings). The denomination of the defendant depends on the phase of proceedings:
Phase: |
Denomination of the defendant: |
Pre-trial proceedings |
Suspect |
Criminal proceedings before a local court |
Defendant |
Criminal proceedings before a district court:
|
Defendant Accused person |
After finality of the judgment |
Convict |
Counsel of the defendant = lawyer defending the defendant.
Injured party = person who was injured by means of the criminal offence (their personal or property right). When the result of a criminal offence is the death of a person, the injured parties also include their spouse, cohabiting partner, blood relatives in a direct line, adopted children or adoptive parents, siblings and persons whom the dead person provided for or was obliged to provide for.
Injured party as the prosecutor = injured party who assumes criminal prosecution against the defendant and thus the role of a prosecutor in criminal proceedings.
State prosecutor = prosecutor who files and represents the indictment before the court in public interest (is a party to criminal proceedings).
Investigating judge = judge leading the investigation.
Single judge = judge conducting the proceedings before a local court.
President of the panel = judge conducting the proceedings before a district court.