What is the purpose of a criminal trial?

The purpose of a criminal trial in Washington is to determine guilt or innocence of a defendant, who may be on trial for a criminal offense. The trial is conducted under the rules of evidence and criminal procedure. These are the rules that the court and lawyers need to follow in order to ensure that a fair and accurate trial takes place. During the criminal trial, the prosecution presents evidence in an attempt to prove that the defendant committed the crime. The defendant also has the opportunity to present evidence that is relevant to the alleged crime. Witnesses are often called upon to testify in court, and the lawyers for both sides can then question the witnesses to draw out more evidence. The jury is responsible for weighing the evidence presented to them and deciding if the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The defendant is found guilty if the jury believes that the prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the alleged crime. If the defendant is found not guilty, the criminal trial is over. The results of the criminal trial are either a guilty verdict or an acquittal of the defendant. A guilty verdict means that the defendant is convicted of the crime and will face punishments like imprisonment. An acquittal means that the defendant is not guilty and the criminal case is dismissed.

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What is the purpose of a criminal trial?

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