not proven

/ ˈprəʊvən /

adjective

1. (postpositive) a third verdict available to Scottish courts, returned when there is evidence against the defendant but insufficient to convict

Example Sentences

“The virus wasn’t detected in any of the four cats, so infection was not proven.”

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"In fact, the authors of the paper clearly stated in the paper that they had not proven a link but suggested more research should be done. That research has been done, and no evidence of a link has been found."

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The removal of the not proven verdict, which is unique to Scottish courts and can be traced back to the 17th Century, will be a major milestone in the country's legal history.

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Not proven is one of three verdicts that can be returned in Scotland's criminal courts, alongside guilty and not guilty.

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There have been repeated calls to abolish not proven in recent decades, often prompted by families of victims who have been left aggrieved by what they perceive as an unfair verdict.

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