Can the victim of a crime throw a court case?
<p>Can the victim of the crime just turn down a lawyer and when asked to testify just plead the 5th so the defendant can not go to jail?</p>

<p>In principle, the victim can be granted <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witness_immunity" rel="noreferrer">immunity</a> for his testimony.  At that point, since his testimony cannot incriminate him, the 5th Amendment protections no longer apply.  He can be ordered to testify and held in contempt of court if he refuses.</p>

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