[Avodah] Eidut

[Shoshana L. Boublil]

Halachically, is a victim of a crime supposed to go to a Beit Din and report the crime?  

Does it change things if he knows who performed the crime?

Does it change things if he doesn't have a witness to back him up vs. if he has a witness to back up his claims?

Is reporting the crime part of mitzvat Eidut?  If a witness to the crime does not come forward, is this a transgression of Mitzvat Eidut? of "Lo Ta'amod Al Dam"? or is he guilty of Lashon HaRa if he is the sole witness?

When we say that we need two witnesses, do the witnesses have to come together? Do they have to know about the existence of each other?

Shoshana L. Boublil