Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
Turned state's evidence
English answer:
To confess to a crime and give evidence against one's accomplices.
Added to glossary by
Jianming Sun
Nov 8, 2005 10:26
18 yrs ago
English term
Accurate -- Reliable -- Fast
Native in: Chinese 
Works in: English to Chinese, Chinese to English, German to Chinese, and 3 more.
turned
Non-PRO
English
Law/Patents
Journalism
Anti-mafia campaigners yesterday reacted with outrage after learning that one of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra's most infamous killers is being allowed out of prison on day release only eight years after being jailed.
Giovanni Brusca, who turned state's evidence after his 1996 arrest, has confessed to more than 100 murders.
Giovanni Brusca, who turned state's evidence after his 1996 arrest, has confessed to more than 100 murders.
Responses
| 5 +10 | Definition |
John Bowden
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| 4 +2 | here it just means gave with the emphasis on chose to give |
Terence Ajbro
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| 4 +1 | not for grading |
RHELLER
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Change log
Nov 8, 2005 13:02: Ian M-H (X) changed "Field" from "Art/Literary" to "Law/Patents"
Responses
+10
1 hr
Selected
Definition
"To turn State's evidence: to confess toa crime and give evidence against one's accomplices."
So it's more than just "give evidence": you have to confess that you are guilty, but also "name names" of others who were involved in the planning or execution of the crime - the aim is to try to get a reduced sentence for yourself in return for helping the authorities.
So it's more than just "give evidence": you have to confess that you are guilty, but also "name names" of others who were involved in the planning or execution of the crime - the aim is to try to get a reduced sentence for yourself in return for helping the authorities.
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
juvera
: Knowing, that he faces trial, punishment, etc. for committing/participating in some crime, to gain favourable treatment the person confesses, and gives evidence against others. First of all, he has to be accused to be able to turn state's evidence.
1 hr
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| agree |
Ian M-H (X)
: Yes - an accused person "turns" from a purely defensive strategy to one that involves helping the prosecution. One turns *against* former accomplices.
1 hr
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| agree |
Trudy Peters
1 hr
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| agree |
Elizabeth Lyons
3 hrs
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| agree |
jccantrell
4 hrs
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| agree |
RHELLER
: now they call it "plea-bargaining" which is very similar (turn like turncoat- which means betrayal)
4 hrs
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| agree |
Elizabeth Rudin
6 hrs
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| agree |
Michael Barnett
: Agree with Rita.
7 hrs
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| agree |
Alfredo Tutino
: BTW, this is exactly what Brusca did. In Italy, we call him a "pentito" (lit. repentant; catholic tradition) - in this case a "pentito di mafia". In the last 15 years special legislative acts have been passed to encourage this kind of behaviour
12 hrs
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
19 hrs
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Thanks everybody!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all for kind help!"
+2
2 mins
Terence Ajbro
Sweden
Sweden
Native in English
&
English
Sweden
A multilingual Englishman
Native in: English
Works in: English to German, English to Danish, Danish to English, and 7 more.
here it just means gave with the emphasis on chose to give
--
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Kurt Porter
0 min
|
| agree |
Jack Doughty
2 mins
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| agree |
Arcoiris
21 mins
|
| agree |
Dave Calderhead
32 mins
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| disagree |
Ian M-H (X)
: "gave state's evidence" doesn't make sense to me - and the point here is the accused 'switching sides'
2 hrs
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| disagree |
RHELLER
: this is an idiom
5 hrs
|
+1
5 hrs
not for grading
I already agreed with John's answer (additional support)
To give evidence for the prosecution against an accomplice in a crime.
http://www.allwords.com/word-turn state's evidence.html
turn king's/queen's evidence, turn state's evidence
if someone who has been accused of a crime turns king's evidence, they give information in a court of law about other people involved in the crime in order to have their own punishment reduced
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=evidence*1 0&...
To give evidence for the prosecution against an accomplice in a crime.
http://www.allwords.com/word-turn state's evidence.html
turn king's/queen's evidence, turn state's evidence
if someone who has been accused of a crime turns king's evidence, they give information in a court of law about other people involved in the crime in order to have their own punishment reduced
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=evidence*1 0&...
Discussion