What does acquitted mean in a trial?

In criminal trials, the accused is charged with a crime. The prosecution is responsible for gathering evidence showing that the accused committed the crime. The prosecution presents their case and the defense makes their case for the accused to be not guilty. If the prosecution’s case is strong enough, jurors will find the accused guilty. If the prosecution’s case is weak, jurors will find the accused not guilty.

What does acquitted mean in a criminal trial?

An acquittal in a criminal trial means that the court rules there is not enough evidence to convict the person of the crime charged. If a person is acquitted, they are presumed innocent of the crime and cannot be tried for the same crime again in the future.

What does acquitted mean in a murder trial?

After a murder trial ends, the jury decides if the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the crime. If the jury determines the defendant is not guilty, they will issue a verdict of not guilty. The person is legally acquitted. This means they are not considered a criminal and will not be punished for the crime.

What does acquitted mean in court?

If you are charged with a crime, there are two possible outcomes at trial: guilty or not guilty. If the jury finds you not guilty, then you are acquitted. If the jury finds you guilty, then you are found guilty. It's that simple. However, the verdict at trial does not determine whether you are, in fact, guilty. A not guilty verdict does not automatically mean that you are not guilty.

What does acquittal mean in a court of law?

Not guilty means that the prosecution failed to prove all the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. This means a judge or jury found that the prosecution did not have enough evidence to convict.