Legal Definitions - accuser

An accuser is an individual who formally claims that another person has committed a crime. In a legal context, an accuser is the party who brings a formal charge or complaint against someone, asserting that they are responsible for a specific criminal offense. While the term broadly refers to anyone making such a claim, in certain legal systems, there may be specific rules or qualifications regarding who can formally act as an accuser.

• Example 1: A witness observes a person spray-painting graffiti on a public building and reports the incident, identifying the individual to the police. In this scenario, the witness acts as the accuser, formally alleging that the identified person committed the crime of vandalism.

• Example 2: A small business owner discovers that a significant amount of money is missing from their company's accounts and, after an internal investigation, presents evidence to law enforcement identifying a former employee as the perpetrator. The business owner becomes the accuser, formally charging the former employee with the crime of theft or embezzlement.

• Example 3: A victim of a physical altercation files a police report, detailing the assault and naming the individual responsible. By providing their account and identifying the assailant, the victim is acting as the accuser, formally alleging that the named individual committed the crime of assault.