have a case to answer

[albatross521]

just saw this phrase,

Catherine Milnes for Huang and Graeme Newell for Ng conceded their clients had a case to answer.

what does "have a case to answer" mean?

Does it mean they are wrongly accused?

[Catso]

Exactly the opposite,surely?

If they were wrongly accused they wouldn't have a case to answer to.

[JudgeJ]

In a criminal trial (be it in the magistrates� court or the crown court) the process is that the prosecution make out their case (by providing evidence in the form of statements, witnesses, videos, or whatever). The defendant (or more usually his advocate) then has the opportunity to put the case for his defence; that is, to provide an explanation for the events that the prosecution has described in order to avoid being convicted of the offence.

At the halfway stage (that is, after the prosecution has completed its case) the defence can submit that there is �no case to answer�. They ask the magistrates or judge to consider that the evidence put forward by the prosecution is insufficient to secure a conviction and that there is no need for them to provide any defence. If this is agreed the defendant would be discharged without having to provide any evidence in his defence.

So to "have a case to answer" means that a defence must be provided in response to the proscution's case in order to allow either the magistrates or the jury to consider a verdict.

[albatross521]

Thx Casto and JudgeJ.

JudgeJ's explanation is so professional.

[Catso]

And so it should be.