Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Not proven: A verdict used only in Scottish criminal law that means the accused is not guilty, but there is still a strong suspicion of guilt that has not been fully proven. It is an archaic term and is also known as the Scotch verdict.
Definition: Not proven is a verdict used in Scots criminal law, which means that the accused is not guilty, but there is still a strong suspicion of guilt that has not been fully proved. It is an archaic verdict that is no longer used in other legal systems.
Example: In a trial for murder, if the jury cannot reach a verdict of guilty or not guilty, they may return a verdict of not proven. This means that the accused is acquitted of the charge, but there is still a suspicion that they may have committed the crime.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the verdict of not proven is used in a criminal trial. It shows that the accused is not found guilty, but there is still a suspicion of guilt that has not been fully proved. This verdict is unique to Scots law and is not used in other legal systems.