Süüdistataval

Süüdistataval is an Estonian legal term that refers to the person who has been accused of a crime and who participates in criminal proceedings. In everyday usage it corresponds to the English term the accused or the defendant. The word comes from the verb süüdistama (to accuse) and its participial form süüdistatav (the accused).

In Estonian law the accused is a party to criminal proceedings and is entitled to certain rights, including the presumption of innocence, the right to be informed of charges, the right to legal counsel, and the opportunity to present a defense. The term süüdistataval appears in official documents, court rulings, and media reports in its appropriate grammatical form depending on the sentence structure, such as to indicate location, relationship to the case, or other context within the proceedings.

Süüdistataval is one of several related terms describing participants in a criminal case. The prosecutor is referred to as the süüdistaja (the prosecutor), while the formal charge is a süüdistus. The status of the person described by süüdistataval can change over the course of the case, from accusation to potential acquittal or conviction, with corresponding changes in legal rights and procedural posture.

See also: süüdistus, süüdistaja, kriminaalõigus, menetlus.