state witness
Government's trial source
A state witness is someone who testifies for the prosecution in a criminal trial, typically a person with inside knowledge of the crime—often a co-conspirator or accomplice who agrees to testify against others in exchange for immunity or reduced charges.
The defendant's former partner turned state witness and revealed the whole scheme.
The term emphasizes that the witness serves the state's interest in securing a conviction.
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- sworn testimonyOath-bound legal statement
- courtroomJudicial proceedings chamber
- take the standGive sworn court testimony
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
informant · immunity · cut a deal · trial · criminal trial · oath · stand · evidence · snitch · turncoat · cooperate · plea · deal · protection · betrayal · mobster · confession · sworn
state witnessdefense witness
Testifier for the accused
character witness · hostile witness · reluctant witness · prosecution witness
state witnessdefense witness
Testifier for the accused
defense counsel · defense attorney · public defender · defense team · co-defendant
state witnessdefendant
Party facing charges
criminal defendant · co-defendant · suspect · person of interest
state, witness, states, stated, stating, statement, statements, statehood, stateless