“Blemished defendant” refers to a defendant who has a tarnished reputation or is seen unfavourably in the eyes of the public or the court due to past actions, criminal history, or other factors. In legal proceedings, the characterisation of a defendant as blemished may influence perceptions of credibility, fairness, and potential outcomes of the case. It is important to note that everyone is entitled to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence, regardless of any perceived blemishes or prior conduct.
A trendy term for a defendant in a criminal trial who is not of exemplary character, but whose character is nonetheless not sufficiently bad that he cannot benefit from a direction to the jury that his good character should be taken into account (see V ye direction for discussion).
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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March 2024.
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