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Simple English definitions for legal terms
compurgator
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A quick definition of compurgator:
A compurgator is a person who supports a defendant in court by making an oath. In the past, a defendant could have up to 11 compurgators who would testify that they believed the defendant was telling the truth. This was called compurgation or trial by oath. If the defendant could not get enough compurgators or they did not swear properly, they would lose the case. This practice was common in many barbarian tribes and was adopted by the church. It was abolished in 1833.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: A compurgator is a person who appeared in court and made an oath in support of a civil or criminal defendant. They were also known as oath-helpers.
Example: In medieval times, if someone was accused of a crime, they could ask their friends or family members to be their compurgators. These compurgators would then swear an oath that they believed the accused was telling the truth. If enough compurgators swore the oath, the accused would be found innocent.
This practice was common in many of the barbarian tribes who overran the Roman empire. The church later adopted it, and it was used in English law until 1833.
Explanation: The example illustrates how compurgators were used in medieval times to help someone accused of a crime. The compurgators would swear an oath to support the accused, and if enough people did so, the accused would be found innocent. This shows how important the role of the compurgator was in the legal system of the time.