NCJ Number
17014
Date Published
1972
Length
47 pages
Annotation
IN THIS BRITISH STUDY A SERIES OF CASE DESCRIPTIONS ARE PRESENTED AND CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THE STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE WHICH WAS ABLE TO BE BROUGHT AGAINST THE DEFENDANTS IN EACH CASE.
Abstract
A NUMBER OF CONTESTED CASES IN SELECTED COURTS OF QUARTER SESSIONS AND ASSIZE WERE OBSERVED DURING THE COURSE OF THIS STUDY. THE AUTHORS STATE THAT ACQUITTALS SEEMED TO BE SPREAD ACROSS A SPECTRUM MEASURED BY THE STRENGTH OF THE EVIDENCE AGAINST THE DEFENDANTS. THEY CONCLUDE THAT IN GENERAL, THE ACQUITTAL OF A DEFENDANT WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO A SINGLE CAUSE - THE FAILURE OF THE PROSECUTION TO PROVIDE ENOUGH INFORMATION OR TO PRESENT IT IN COURT IN A WAY THAT WOULD CONVINCE BOTH JUDGE AND JURY OF THE DEFENDANTS GUILT. AT ONE END OF THE SPECTRUM WERE THE ACQUITTALS WHICH WERE DIRECTED BY THE JUDGE, WHO BY HIS DIRECTION INDICATED THAT THE FACTS DID SHOW THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE DEFENDANT IN THE OFFENSE CHARGED. THE REST OF THE SPECTRUM INCLUDED ACQUITTALS DUE TO A PROSECUTION BEING UNDERTAKEN FOR REASONS OTHER THAN THE STRENGTH OF THE EVIDENCE, CASES ACQUITTED DUE TO THE FAILURE OF PROSECUTION WITNESSES, CASES IN WHICH THE DEFENDANT'S EXPLAINATION LED TO AN ACQUITTAL, AND THOSE IN WHICH A NOT GUILTY VERDICT SEEMED UNJUSTIFIED. CASE DESCRIPTIONS FOR EACH OF THESE ACQUITTAL CATEGORIES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).