accused

 adjective: 1. charged with a crime, wrongdoing, fault, etc.: the accused boy. noun: 1. a person or persons charged in a court of law with a crime, offense, etc. (often preceded by the). 2. "the accused," Law. the defendant or defendants appearing on a criminal charge. 3. one charged with an offense especially : the defendant in a criminal case. 4. Law. a person who has been arrested for or formally charged with a crime : the defendant in a criminal case: the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial — U.S. Constitution amend. VI. Note: Certain rights guaranteed by the Constitution, such as the right to counsel, become effective once a person is characterized as an accused. You can use "the accused" to refer to a person or a group of people charged with a crime or on trial for it: The accused is alleged to be a member of a right-wing gang. Related Words: implicated, arraigned, indicted, liable. Origin: First recorded in 1585–95; accuse + -ed2. C13: via Old French from Latin accūsāre to call to account, from ad- to + causa lawsuit.
Source 1, Source 2, Source 3.