History Series / Accused

* KarmaHoudini: Kenny's friends were equally guilty, but the only evidence against them is Kenny's confession, so the jury acquits them. Alison's husband isn't arrested for raping her, as she didn't report it, but is for other crimes. Tina's rapist is also not arrested for the same reasons.

An [[Series/AccusedUS American remake]] began airing in 2023 on Creator/{{Fox}}.

An American remake is set to air in 2023 on Creator/{{Fox}}.

* DrivenToSuicide: In "Frankie's Story" Frankie's friend Peter is bullied ruthlessly by the other soldiers, led by the cruel corporal, after he cracks under fire. This leads to him shooting himself. In "Tina's Story" Stephen Cartwright reappears when he enters a juvenile prison to start his time. After only a short period, he hangs himself. This spurs the episode's plot, as Tina blames another guard who didn't move him to a cell with another prisoner where he could be watched as she asked.

* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this in court however, giving him no mitigation. He gets 25 years in prison. Jake [[spoiler: murdered another boy]] only because he was being coerced by the leader of his gang with the threat of being murdered himself if he didn't comply. He feels terrible about it, and pleads guilty.

* RapeAsDrama: In "Kenny's Story" the rape of Kenny's daughter sets the plot in motion after he then seeks revenge. In "Alison's Story" Alison is raped by her husband when he thinks she's cheated on him. This leads to their separation, a battle for custody of their kids [[spoiler: and him framing her as a drug dealer with assistance from his police captain father so she'll lose them.]] Tina is set up to be raped by a prisoner after she attempts to report a fellow prison guard's negligence, which left another prisoner alone where he killed himself.

* ClearMyName: "Alison's Story" is focused on this after Alison gets framed for drug dealing by her abusive husband's cop father, as a means to get him full custody of their kids.

''Accused'' was a British television series which ran from 2010 to 2012. Despite high critical acclaim, it was canceled after two series. The show followed a criminal trial in each episode, showing how the defendant got to be there. Actors Creator/ChristopherEccleston, Creator/AndySerkis, Creator/NaomieHarris, Creator/SeanBean, and Creator/RobertSheehan, among others, were featured on its run.

* InsaneEqualsViolent: Stephen is a paranoid schizophrenic. His delusions lead him to stab his stepmother, believing she killed his mother, his dog, and is trying to do his father and brother in as well. Somewhat [[JustifiedTrope justified]] with his condition, as the belief they're being persecuted is more likely to make the person use violence (which like Stephen they also may honestly believe is justified).

* InsaneEqualsViolent: Stephen is a paranoid schizophrenic. His delusions lead him to stab his stepmother, believing she killed his mother, his dog, and is trying to do his father and brother in as well. Somewhat [[JustifiedTrope justified]] with his condition, as the belief they're being persecuted is more likely to make the person use violence (which like Stephen they also may honestly believe is self-defense).

* JustifiedCriminal: [[spoiler: Willy steals out of desperation to pay for his daughter's wedding. Frankie snaps and kills the man who drove his friend to suicide. Helen burns the factory of the man whose negligence caused her son's death.]]

* ClearMyName: "Alison's Story" is focused on this after Alison gets framed for drug dealing by her abusive husband's cop father, as a means of taking the kids away.

''Accused'' was a British television series which ran from 2010 to 2012. Despite high critical acclaim, it was canceled after two series. The show followed a criminal trial in each episode, showing how the defendant got to be there. Actors Creator/ChristopherEccleston, Creator/AndySerkis, Creator/NaomieHarris, Creator/SeanBean, and Creator/RobertSheehan, among others, were features on its run.

* RapeAsDrama: In "Kenny's Story" the rape of Kenny's daughter sets the plot in motion after he seeks revenge then. In "Alison's Story" Alison is raped by her husband when he thinks she's cheated on him. This leads to their separation, a battle for custody of their kids [[spoiler: and him framing her as a drug dealer with assistance from his police captain father so she'll lose them.]] Tina is set up to be raped by a prisoner after she attempts to report a fellow prison guard's negligence, which left another prisoner alone where he killed himself.

* TheCloudCuckooLanderWasRight: Possibly the case paranoid schizophrenic Stephen at the end of "Stephen's Story", [[spoiler: where it appears that his stepmother really was poisoning his father and brother.]] However, it's left ambiguous whether this is another of his delusions or not.
* DrivenToSuicide: In "Frankie's Story" Frankie's friend Peter is bullied ruthlessly by the other soldiers, led by their corporal, after he cracks under fire. This leads to him shooting himself. In "Tina's Story" Stephen Cartwright reappears when he enters a juvenile prison to start his time. After only a short time, he hangs himself. This spurs the episode's plot, as Tina blames another guard who didn't move him to a cell with another prisoner where he could be watched as she asked.

* InsaneEqualsViolent: Stephen is a paranoid schizophrenic. His delusions lead him to stab his stepmother, believing she killed his mother, his dog, and is trying to do his father and brother in as well. Somewhat [[JustifiedTrope justified]] with his condition, as the belief they're being persecuted is more likely to make the person use violence (which like Stephen they may honestly believe is self-defense).

* RapeAsDrama: In "Kenny's Story" the rape of Kenny's daughter sets the plot in motion after he seeks revenge. "Alison's Story" Alison is raped by her husband when he thinks she's cheated on him. This leads to their separation, a battle for custody of their kids [[spoiler: and him framing her as a drug dealer with assistance from his police captain father so she'll lose them.]] Tina is set up to get raped by a prisoner after she attempts to report a fellow prison guard's negligence, which left another prisoner alone where he killed himself.
* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this however, giving him no mitigation. He gets 25 years in prison. Jake [[spoiler: murdered another boy]] only because he was coerced by the leader of his gang with the threat of being murdered himself if he didn't comply. He feels terrible about it, and pleads guilty.

''Accused'' was a British television series which ran from 2010 to 2012. Despite high critical acclaim, it was canceled after two series. The show followed a criminal trial in each episode, showing how the defendant got to be there. It featured actors Creator/ChristopherEccleston, Creator/AndySerkis, Creator/NaomieHarris, Creator/SeanBean, and Creator/RobertSheehan.

* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this however, giving him no mitigation. He gets 25 years in prison. Jake [[spoiler: murdered another boy]] only because he was coerced by the leader of his gang with the threat of being murdered himself if he didn't comply. He feels terrible about it, and pleads guilty.
* ThroughTheEyesOfMadness: Stephen is clearly a paranoid schizophrenic, which makes him think his stepmother killed his mother, the family dog, and is now trying to kill his father and brother as well. [[spoiler: Eventually this leads to him stabbing her in what he believes to be defending them, and himself. He refuses to admit he's mentally ill though, or allow a psychiatric examination. This means he's convicted and gets six years in prison when most likely he wasn't responsible at all.]]

* InsanityDefense: {{Discussed}} in "Stephen's Story". Stephen's attorney wants him to get a psychiatric examination so they can prove he was insane at the time of his crime (he's clearly a schizophrenic). Stephen refuses though, denying he's mentally ill and claiming what happened was justified to defend himself and his family. This doesn't work, and he gets convicted.

* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this however, giving him no mitigation. He gets 25 years in prison. Jake [[spoiler: murdered another boy]] only because he was coerced by the leader of his gang with the threat of being murdered himself if he didn't comply. He feels terrible about it, and pleads guilty.

* InsaneEqualsViolent: Stephen is a paranoid schizophrenic. His delusions lead him to stab his stepmother, believing she killed his mother, his dog, and is trying to do his father and brother in as well. Somewhat [[JustifiedTrope justified]] as he appears to be a paranoid schizophrenia, as the belief their being persecuted is more likely to make the person use violence (which like Stephen they may honestly believe is self-defense).

* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this however, giving him no mitigation. He gets 25 years in prison. Jake [[spoiler: murdered another boy]] only because he was coerced by the leader of his gang with the threat of being murdered himself if he didn't comply. He feels terrible about it, and pleads guilty.

* HowWeGotHere: The form of every episode's plot. Often what the case is about isn't even revealed until late into the episode.

* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this however, giving him no mitigation. He gets 25 years in prison. Jake [[spoiler: murdered another boy]] only because he was coerced by the leader of his gang with the threat of being murdered himself if he didn't comply. He feels terrible about it, and pleads guilty.

* {{Hallucinations}}: Stephen sees Creator/AlastairCampbell telling him from the television screen to kill his stepmother to save his family.

* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this however, giving him no mitigation. He gets 25 years in prison. Jake [[spoiler: murdered another boy]] only because he was coerced by the leader of his gang with the threat of being murdered himself if he didn't comply. He feels terrible about it, and pleads guilty.

* DrivenToSuicide: In "Frankie's Story" Frankie's friend Peter is bullied ruthlessly by the other soldiers, led by their corporal, after he cracks under fire. This leads to him shooting himself. In "Tina's Story" Stephen Cartwright reappears when he enters a juvenile prison to start his time. After only a short time, he hangs himself. This spurs the episode's plot, as Tina blames another guard who didn't move him as she asked.

* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this however, giving him no mitigation. He gets 25 years in prison. Jake [[spoiler: murdered another boy]] only because he was coerced by the leader of his gang with the threat of being murdered himself if he didn't comply. He feels terrible about it, and pleads guilty.

* TheCloudCuckooLanderWasRight: Possibly the case with Stephen. [[spoiler: It appears that his stepmother really ''was'' poisoning his father and brother. However, it's left ambiguous whether this is another of his delusions or not.]]

* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this however, giving him no mitigation. He gets 25 years in prison. Jake [[spoiler: murdered another boy]] only because he was coerced by the leader of his gang with the threat of being murdered himself if he didn't comply. He feels terrible about it, and pleads guilty.

* FrameUp: In "Alison's Story" Alison is framed as a drug dealer by her husband and his police captain father so she'll lose custody of their kids. Thankfully, this is revealed, she's acquitted, and they get arrested.]]

* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this however, giving him no mitigation. He gets 25 years in prison. Jake [[spoiler: murdered another boy]] only because he was coerced by the leader of his gang with the threat of being murdered himself if he didn't comply. He feels terrible about it, and pleads guilty.

* KarmaHoudini: Alison's husband isn't arrested for raping her, as she didn't report it, but is for other crimes. Tina's rapist is also not arrested for the same reasons.
* RapeAsDrama: In "Alison's Story" Alison is raped by her husband when he thinks she's cheated on him. This leads to their separation, a battle for custody of their kids [[spoiler: and him framing her as a drug dealer with assistance from his police captain father so she'll lose them.]] Tina is set up to get raped by a prisoner after she attempts to report a fellow prison guard's negligence, which left another prisoner alone where he killed himself.
* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this however, giving him no mitigation. He gets 25 years in prison. Jake [[spoiler: murdered another boy]] only because he was coerced by the leader of his gang with the threat of being murdered himself if he didn't comply. He feels terrible about it, and pleads guilty.

* DownerEnding: "Willy's Story", "Frankie's Story" and "Stephen's Story" end with the title characters getting sentences that seem longer than deserved (or for Stephen, he shouldn't really have been convicted at all, given that he's clearly insane).

* HowWeGotHere: The form of every episode's plot. Often what the charge is isn't even revealed until late in.

* RapeAsDrama: In "Alison's Story" Alison is raped by her husband when he thinks she's cheated on him. This leads to their separation, a battle for custody of their kids [[spoiler: and him framing her as a drug dealer with assistance from his police captain father so she'll lose them.]]
* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this however, giving him no mitigation. He gets 25 years in prison.

* KarmaHoudini: Alison's husband doesn't get arrested for raping her, as she didn't report it, but is for other crimes. Tina's rapist is also not arrested for the same reasons.

* SympatheticMurderer: Frankie. After he's relentlessly bullied for trying to report bullying of his friend who eventually killed himself over it, he snaps [[spoiler: and kills his corporal, who led this.]] It doesn't help that he won't reveal any of this however, giving him no mitigation, and he gets 25 years in prison.

* DrivenToSuicide: In "Tina's Story" Stephen Cartwright reappears when he enters a juvenile prison to begin his sentence. After only a short time, he hangs himself. This spurs the episode's plot, as Tina blames another guard who didn't move him as she asked.

* HollywoodLaw:

* KarmaHoudini:
* RapeAsDrama:
* WholesomeCrossdresser: