Unlock your path to an A grade with my comprehensive notes on Unit 3 AC3.2 Draw conclusions from information. Packed with everything you need – textbook insights, lecture materials, and in-depth research featuring real-life case studies and statistics.
Safe & Unsafe Verdicts
Just verdicts
A just verdict is one that is deserved, lawful and proper by doing justice to the facts of the case
Double Jeopardy, up until 2003, prevented someone who had been found innocent from being prosecuted
again for that offence. The idea was to keep the law fair and to stop prosecutors from repeatedly prosecuting
someone until a conviction was secure. This however prevented just verdicts in some cases as the original trial
may be unjust, but a second trial cannot be held, such as in the Billy Dunlop case
If the law feels unjust or immoral, the jury may deliberately reject evidence and acquit the defendant, even
when directed to do otherwise by the judge. Juries in the early 19th century would often give not-guilty
verdicts to thieves as any item worth more than 40 shillings (£2) resulted in the death sentence (nullification)
In 1998, Alan Blythe was charged with cultivating cannabis with intent to supply. He stated his wife was
terminally ill and the cannabis was the only thing that eased her pain. The judge directed a guilty verdict but
the jury found him not guilty on all charges other than cannabis possession
Case Study – Stephen Lawrence
The racially motivated murder of Stephen Lawrence caused many to campaign for the abolishment of the
double jeopardy law. The investigation had been marred by institutional racism which meant no suspects
were prosecuted. Eventually, in 2012 after the Macpherson report, a retrial convicted 2 of the original 5
suspects. A just verdict had been delivered only in 2 out of the 5 suspects.
Miscarriages of justice
A miscarriage of justice is when someone who has been found guilty is later proven innocent
Case Study - Stefan Kiszko
★ Stefan was convicted of the rape and murder of 11yr old Lesley Molseed
★ Kiszko confessed after 3 days of questioning, claiming he was bullied into making the confession
★ He was convicted after his defence failed to claim diminished responsibility due to his mental age of 7
★ On appeal, evidence showed that material left on the victim’s body could not be from Kiszko due to an
impotent illness
Case Study - Judith Ward
★ Judith was convicted of multiple bombings, based on her confessions and forensic evidence
★ However, Court of Appeal questioned her confession reliability due to her personality disorder and her
propensity to imagine herself to be an IRA member
★ The original forensic evidence and her confession were discredited, leading to the conviction being quashed
Safe verdicts
● A fair trial results in a safe verdict when two key elements are ensured
○ The presented evidence is admissible, reliable, credible, and sufficient to justify the verdict
○ Court procedures are correctly followed throughout the trial
Case Study - Moors murderers
★ A secure verdict was reached by ensuring admissible and trustworthy evidence
★ David Smith witnessed Ian Brady killing Edward Evans with an axe, and Brady revealed the burial locations
of the other victims at the Moors which David reported immediately
★ Police meticulously examined each piece of evidence, including photos of Myra posing with a victim
★ This accurate compliance with evidence led to a safe verdict, proving guilty beyond all reasonable doubt
Unsafe verdicts
● Incorrect verdicts can result in a miscarriage of justice (someone found guilty is later proven innocent)
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller samanthaihowe. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $9.73. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
