The film is called ‘The Accused’ not ‘The Defendants’

The ‘accused’ is the man or woman charged with a crime. It’s not the defendant. Something I read recently made me realize this distinction. I don’t know etymology of the word ‘defendant’ or why it’s something to be avoided, but I do know the ‘accused’ seems like the more appropriate label.

And the old movie The Accused makes it clear that the word ‘accused’ formerly was more common.