Verdicts

When the evidence of all the witnesses has been heard, the judge/sheriff (or jury) must reach their verdict or make their decision. In criminal cases, the possible verdicts are:

Not proven or not guilty
If the accused is found not guilty, or the case is found not proven then the accused is free to go, and cannot be prosecuted again on that charge. Both these verdicts mean there was not enough evidence to prove the case “beyond reasonable doubt”.

Guilty
If the accused is found guilty the Judge will decide on the most appropriate sentence. There is a wide range of sentencing options depending on the nature of the crime and the background of the person who has been convicted. Sometimes sentencing does not happen immediately after a verdict but is delayed for background reports.

If you have had contact with VIA or the Witness Service, they will tell you the verdict of a trial if you are not present. If you have not had contact with the VIA or the Witness Service, you could contact the Court or the Procurator Fiscal's office, although they will need to know the date of the trial and also the name of the accused to identify the case. If you do not have this information and they are unable to help, ask the police, quoting the crime number they initially gave you. They may then be able to tell you or contact the PF’s office on your behalf.