THE DEFENDANT'S LAST WORD AS A LEGAL INSTRUMENT OF THE INSTITUTION OF PROTECTION IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS (HISTORICAL ASPECT)

Chulkova Darya Sergeevna

This article reveals the content of the concept of "the last word of the defendant" as the most important legal instrument in the Institute of defense. The main doctrinal and legal sources that determine the defendant's last word at different stages of historical development, starting with Ancient Athens and Rome, are analyzed. The author touches upon the issues of the influence of the defendant's last word on the court decision made following the completion of the criminal trial, including one conducted with the participation of jurors. The purpose of the work is to provide a thesis definition of the historical aspects of the formation of a legal concept. A critical approach to the interpretation of scientific and legal sources on the topic allows us to identify basic gaps in the theoretical interpretation and practical results of the application of the defense tool, which is the last word of the defendant in the conditions of permanent transformation of the domestic system of Russian justice.

Keywords:the last word of the defendant, legal mechanisms, justice system, criminal procedure, defense, institute of defense, historical aspect, judicial speech.