Zeul - in that case Jim Davidson, Michael Le Vell, Mike Osman and another couple of non celebrities have been accused and repeatedly bailed but can never ever prove their 100% innocence. Humbug.
It will be interesting when MC takes on the CPS in the new year. He will come well armed and they better have some good evidence. Should be interesting!
In cases like this, how can anyone "prove" their innocence? Or guilt, come to that, in the absence of forensic or other corroborating evidence?
All any jury can do is make a presumption of either innocence or guilt, based upon the evidence, assumptions of character and which is the more compelling and plausible narrative put before them by prosecuting and defence teams.
It is far from satisfactory but it has always been that way
The serious issues aren't helped by confusing what the judgements mean with what we might like to think they mean
Personally, I'm still not certain what Mr LeVell did or didn't do, but the legal process has done it's work and he should be allowed to get on with his life 'presumed innocent'
a finding (decision) by a trial judge or an appeals court that the prosecution in a criminal case or a plaintiff in a lawsuit has not proved the case because the attorney did not present enough convincing evidence. Insufficient evidence usually results in dismissal of the case after the prosecution or the plaintiff has completed his/her introduction of evidence or, if on appeal, reversal of the judgment by the trial court.
I am currently in North Berwick. I wonder what the result would have been if the trial had been held up here.....'guilty,' 'not guilty,' or that wonderful feature of the Alban system, 'Not Proven.'
/so relating to your thinking, no one can ever prove they are totally innocent of an accusation. One can merely be 'presumed' to be innocent./
In criminal courts yes - unless as stated earlier, a case is thrown out due, for example, to incontravertible evidence e.g. forensics that the accused couldn't possibly have done it.
I suppose someone in LeVell's case could bring a private prosecution against his accuser seeking exoneration but I suspect the evidential problems will dissuade him whatever the 'truth' of the matter is