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Acquittal
In criminal law, an acquittal is a verdict of not guilty, or some similar end of the proceeding that terminates it with prejudice without a verdict of guilty being entered against the accused. The opposite result is a conviction.
In the common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies the innocence of the accused, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is abandoned nolle prosequi. Under the rules of double jeopardy and autrefois acquit, an acquittal operates to bar the retrial of the accused for the same offense, even if new evidence surfaces that further implicates the accused. The effect of an acquittal on criminal proceedings is the same whether it results from a jury verdict, or whether it results from the operation of some other rule that discharges the accused.
Scots law has two acquittal verdicts: not guilty and not proven. However a verdict of "not proven" does not give rise to the double jeopardy rule.
Another Jessica's Law acquittal
I received a report that Angela Stoller of the Junction City PD's office won in State v. Schweitzer getting a complete acquittal in a Geary County Jessica's Law prosecution involving a count of aggravated indecent liberties and aggravated intimidation...
Acquittal on agg battery
Here is a Hutch News article reporting that Sam Kepfield won an acquittal in a Reno County aggravated battery prosecution...
Acquittal in Hutchinson
Here is a Hutch News article reporting that Lee Timan won an acquittal in State v. Jones, ending a Reno County possession prosecution.
Acquittal in Lawrence
Here is a Lawrence Journal-World article reporting that Michael Clarke won an acquittal on the primary charges in a Douglas County attempted aggravated criminal sodomy prosecution...
Acquittal in less than an hour
Here is a Hutchinson News article reporting that Janis Knox won an acquittal in State v. Schutte, ending a Reno County child abuse prosecution.
Twenty minutes to acquittal
Here is a Hutch News article reporting that Greg Bell won an acquittal in a Reno County aggravated assault prosecution. Greg argued that the prosecution provided no physical corroborating evidence, resulting in a "he-said, she-said" situation, which does not prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt...
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