Bid To Scrap Scotland’s ‘Not Proven’ Verdict

A bid to scrap Scotland’s controversial “not proven” verdict was launched yesterday. Labour MSP Michael McMahon said the three verdict system caused confusion. He wants to return to the old Scottish two verdicts system – proven and not proven.

And his case was backed by the family of 19-year-old murder victim Amanda Duffy.

Francis Auld was cleared of killing the Lanarkshire student after a jury returned a not proven verdict in 1992. Dad Joe described the not proven verdict in general as being both “unjust and unnecessary”. He said:”Mr McMahon’s Bill is long overdue and if enacted would bring Scotland back into line with the rest of the world.”

Hamilton North and Bellshill MSP McMahon said:” We used to have proven and not proven and then not guilty was introduced and the not proven verdict became something else. I want either a guilty verdict or an acquittal. A case is either proved or not proved.”

He also hopes to increase the majority of jurors needed to back a verdict from eight to 10.