Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Sanhedrin/Chapter 5/4

משנה_סנהדרין_ה_ד

Introduction
Sanhedrin deals primarily with the court and with court cases. The fifth chapter of Sanhedrin is focused mostly on testimony and its treatment.

The fourth mishnah of this chapter deals with procedures after testimony is examined.

Hebrew Text

 * ואחר כך מכניסין את השני ובודקין אותו.
 * אם נמצאו דבריהם מכונין, פותחין בזכות.
 * אמר אחד מן העדים יש לי ללמד עליו זכות, או אחד מן התלמידים יש לי ללמד עליו חובה, משתקין אותו.
 * אמר אחד מן התלמידים יש לי ללמד [עליו] זכות, מעלין אותו ומושיבין אותו ביניהן ולא היה יורד משם כל היום כלו.
 * אם יש ממש בדבריו, שומעין לו.
 * ואפלו הוא אומר יש לי ללמד על עצמי זכות, שומעין לו, ובלבד שיש ממש בדבריו.

English Translation
 And after this, they bring in the second (witness) and check him. If it is found that his words agree, they open with (arguments for) acquittal. If one from among the witnesses says "I have something to say on acquittal" or one from among the students says "I have something to say on conviction," they silence them. If one from among the students says "I have something to say on acquittal," they raise him up and sit him among them and do not bring him down from there the whole day. If his words have substance, they listen to him. And even if he [the accused] says "I have something to say on acquittal," listen to him, but only if his words have substance. 

Explanation
This mishnah opens the procedures after testimony from witnesses is examined. After the witnesses speak, they are not allowed to discuss acquittal (witnesses are used to convict) and similarly, students (of the court) are not allowed to discuss conviction during the acquittal arguments phase of the trial. At this point, the accused is allowed to speak and present his case.