Legal Term: ACCUSATION

Definition: crim. law. A charge made to a competent officer against one who has committed a crime or misdemeanor, so that he may be brought to justice and punishment.

2. A neglect to accuse may in some cases be consicleied a misdemeanor, or misprision. (q. v.) 1 Bro. Civ. Law, 247, 2 Id. 389, Inst. lib. 4, tit. 18.

3. It is a rule that no man is bound to accuse himself, or to testify against himself in a criminal case. Accusare nemo se debet nisi coram Deo. Vide Evidence, Interest, Witness.

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