not proven

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not proven

the verdict in a Scottish criminal trial that amounts to an acquittal but that is not the same as the verdict of NOT GUILTY. In the 17th century, practice developed such that the jury found facts alleged by the prosecution either proven or not proven, and it was then for the judge to convert this to an appropriate level of guilt. In 1728, however, a jury returned a verdict of not guilty, leaving thereafter three verdicts available. The consensus appears to be that the not proven verdict is available where there is insufficient evidence to convict but suspicion still attaches to the accused. Whether or not this is satisfactory is often debated.

References in periodicals archive ?

In July, a not proven verdict was returned in the cases of David McLean and Ryan Gilmour, who were accused of trying to murder two police officers in Glasgow with a 4x4 vehicle.

Third option for jury in dock

Graeme McLeish said: "Even though the law says the case against him was not proven, there'll be few people that will shed a tear about this person.

@dailyrecord

According to the public opinion, there has been a 27 percent decrease in the proportion of Pakistanis who say that most criminals are not proven guilty in Pakistani courts.

55pc Pakistanis believe most criminals are not proven guilty in Pakistani courts

His attorney Rudolf now believes the outcome of the case shows that the US should adopt the Scots verdict - where a jury find the accused's guilt is not proven.

Scotland has a third way. And it's a good way. It would help US courts.. and it would have helped a husband wrongfully accused of murder; AMERICAN LAWYER AT CENTRE OF GRIPPING TVDOCUMENTARY HAILS NOT PROVEN VERDICTS

They also found four of the rape allegations not proven.

A PROVEN DISGRACE; Accused of 29 charges including serious violence and horrific sexual brutality this animal was convicted of just three and will be back on the streets in months. Today, his brave victims say Scotland's failure to convict him and men like him puts our justice system in the dock

THE not proven court verdict is to be reviewed amid fears it is leading to a lack of rape convictions, it was announced yesterday.

Not proven verdict to be probed

But after a 10-day trial at the High Court in Aberdeen the jury found all the charges against him not proven.

Dad cleared over baby fire murder; COURT

economic recovery has not proven to be a significant deterrent to the U.

Fitch: U.S. CMBS Loan Delinquencies Decline Despite Slow Recovery

Cameron Lawson walked free at the High Court in Edinburgh after being found not proven at a retrial in January of raping Natalie.

Mum's letter to a woman of courage; Praise for speaking out on rape trialthe not proven victims.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, Docherty, of Stevenston, Ayrshire, was cleared on a not proven verdict of the alleged attack in Ardrossan in 2008.

Cleared of tot attack

There's a problem with all these complaints about Not Proven.

MSP's verdict scrap plea is a bit illegitimate

It is important to note, however, these are not proven reserves and a significant amount of work lays ahead to prove these reserves.