What Does Not Guilty Mean ? | Legal Choices Dictionary

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Not guilty Easy Read adjective

A court's verdict that the person charged with a crime did not commit it. When criminal court cases start the defendants are asked for their pleas. If they want to deny they committed the offence they plead not guilty. If a court's verdict is that the prosecution has not proved the defendant committed a crime, the defendant has been found not guilty.

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Other useful terms:

Guilty

A court's verdict that the person charged with a crime committed it.

Plea

The defendant's formal answer to the accusations.

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