accuse: to say that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal, or unkind
part of speech: verb. He's been accused of robbery
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arrest: If the police arrest someone, they take them away to ask them about a crime that they might have committed
part of speech: verb. The police arrested her for drinking and driving.
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bail: an amount of money that a person who has been accused of a crime pays to a law court so that they can be released until their trial. The payment is a way of making certain that the person will return to court for trial
part of speech: verb. He was released on bail.
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cell: a small room with not much furniture, especially in a prison or a monastery or convent
part of speech: noun. He was bound and gagged and left in a cell for three days
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charge: to make a formal statement saying that someone is accused of a crime
part of speech: verb. She's been charged with murder.
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court: a place where trials and other legal cases happen, or the people present in such a place, especially the officials and those deciding if someone is guilty
part of speech: noun. He's due to appear in court again on Monday.
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culprit: someone who has done something wrong
part of speech: noun. Police hope the public will help them to find the culprits.
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fine: an amount of money that has to be paid as a punishment for not obeying a rule or law
part of speech: noun. The maximum penalty for the offence is a $1,000 fine
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guilty: feeling guilt
part of speech: adjective. I feel so guilty about forgetting her birthday.
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innocent: not guilty of a particular crime
part of speech: adjective. He firmly believes that she is innocent of the crime
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jail: a place where criminals are kept to punish them for their crimes, or where people accused of crimes are kept while waiting for their trials
part of speech: noun. They spent ten years in jail for fraud
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judge: a person who is in charge of a trial in a court and decides how a person who is guilty of a crime should be punished, or who makes decisions on legal matters
part of speech: noun. The judge will pronounce sentence on the defendant this afternoon.
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jury: a group of people who have been chosen to listen to all the facts in a trial in a law court and to decide if a person is guilty or not guilty, or if a claim has been proved
part of speech: noun. The jury have been unable to return a verdict
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plead: to make an urgent, emotional statement or request for something
part of speech: verb. She appeared on television to plead with the kidnappers.
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prison: a building where criminals are forced to live as a punishment
part of speech: noun. He's spent a lot of time in prison.
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sentence: a punishment given by a judge in court to a person or organization after they have been found guilty of doing something wrong