prisoner's friend

English

(military, historical) An officer acting as counsel for the defendant in a court-martial.
- 1990, Julian Putkowski, Julian Sykes, Shot at Dawn:
  Prior to trial a soldier would be offered the assistance of an officer to act as 'prisoner's friend'. In essence the officer acted as defending counsel, although little is heard of legally qualified officers appearing. Foolishly some men declined this assistance, although more often than not the officer was unskilled in advocacy.
- 1998, John Gunn, Dear Descendants: Recollections for a Gunn Family History 1945-1957, page 19:
  I was 'counsel for the defence', or 'prisoner's friend'. My chap had deserted for nearly two years and spent six months in a civvy jug. With papers under my arm and serious countenance I visited him in his cell day after day, […]