Non-proven (Scotland), case dismissed, insufficient evidence and not guilty etc may mean innocent but, frankly, usually don’t.
When I was a Chairman of the Bench some years ago – I often acquitted people whom the Bench believed to be guilty.
On the ‘balance of probabilities’ every single one would have been convicted. (Without exception.)
But that definition is radically different to ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ – the norm to which Justices operate in criminal trials.
This is the right and proper way for the system to be applied.
