# Culprit

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{{Short description|English legal term}}
{{otheruses}}

A '''culprit''', under [English](/source/England) [law](/source/law) properly the [prison](/source/prison)er at the bar, is one accused of a [crime](/source/crime). The term is used, generally, of one [guilty](/source/guilt_(law)) of an [offence](/source/offence_(law)). In [origin](/source/Etymology) the word is a combination of two [Anglo-French](/source/Anglo-Norman_language) legal words: "culpable" (guilty), and "prit" or "prest" ([Old French](/source/Old_French): ready). On the prisoner at the bar pleading ''not'' guilty, the clerk of the crown answered culpable, and states that he was ready ("prest") to join issue. The words "cul. prist" were then entered on the roll, showing that issue had been joined. When [French law](/source/French_law) terms were discontinued, the words were taken as forming one word addressed to the prisoner.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

The formula "Culprit, how will you be tried?" in answer to a plea of "not guilty," is first found in the trial for murder of the [7th Earl of Pembroke](/source/Philip_Herbert%2C_7th_Earl_of_Pembroke) in 1678.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

Under current [criminal law](/source/criminal_law), the preferred term is [defendant](/source/defendant).

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Sources ==
* {{EB1911|wstitle=Culprit|volume=7|page=618}}

Category:Criminal law
Category:Common law legal terminology
Category:Criminal law legal terminology

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Culprit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culprit) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culprit?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.