acquittal Hear it!

acquittal Definition

ac·quit·tal (ə kwit′'l)

noun

  1. an acquitting; discharge (of duty, obligation, etc.)
  2. Law a setting free or being set free by judgment of the court

Etymology: ME aquital < Anglo-Fr aquitaille: see acquit

acquittal Synonyms

acquittal

n.

absolution, acquitting, suspended sentence, clearance, quittance, exoneration, dismissal, dismissing, deliverance, amnesty, discharge, discharging, pardon, reprieve, exemption, liberation, release, releasing, freeing, vindication, exculpation, remission, relief from, letting off, springing*.

Antonyms punishment*, sentence, imprisonment.

acquittal Law Definition

n

  1. In criminal law, the legal finding, by judge or jury, that an accused person is not guilty of the crime he is charged with. Once the acquittal is reached, the defendant may not be prosecuted again for the same criminal act or transaction.
  2. In contract law, the release or discharge from a debt or other contractual obligation.
acquittal Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • quash: If the court finds that sections 78 and 79 are satisfied, it must make an order quashing the acquittal and directing a retrial.
  • secure: First case was to secure the acquittal of 4 Liverpool Officers at Crown Court Trial.
  • direct: Annual target: Judge directed acquittals in the Crown Court which are attributable to failures in the review process.
  • follow: The release of 37 prisoners following an acquittal on grounds of insanity was also a factor.
  • welcome: Road safety group welcomes Police driver`s acquittal -- and says it`s time to stop prosecuting civilian drivers for trivial offenses.

Preposition: at

  • examination: Clum was a warm sympathizer with the Earps, and did much to secure their acquittal at the preliminary examination.

Adjective modifier

  • subsequent: The subsequent acquittals highlight the grievous miscarriages of justice.
  • previous: Other documents were also handed in, including copies of official reports of previous acquittals of writers accused of conspiracy.
  • original: If the court sets aside the order it may also reinstate the original acquittal.

Modifies a noun

  • rate: Sandra specializes in crime and is an experienced advocate who enjoys a higher than average acquittal rate in the Magistrates & Crown court.
  • Tuesday: Many others acquittal tuesday was in talking he the united kingdom.

Noun used with modifier

  • non-jury: In the year ending March 1998, 11 % of completed cases in the Crown Court resulted in non-jury acquittal or bind over.
  • jury: The last of these he won with a full jury acquittal.

Preposition: on

  • count: Two of the judges dissented from the opinion held by the majority of the Court and voted for defendant's acquittal on all counts.

Preposition: in

  • court: You can do this even if there has been an acquittal in the criminal court.
  • trial: Jackson, of course, has not returned to the ranch, or his animals, since his acquittal in the aforementioned trial.

Preposition: of

  • defendant: The result will be the acquittal of the defendant.
  • officer: Community leaders in the U.S city of Milwaukee, condemned the acquittal of three white former police officers accused of beating a mixed-race man.
  • charge: Even acquittal of the criminal charges the forfeiture is based upon does not prevent retrying the same facts.

Preposition: for

  • offense: Legislation is in the pipeline to extend the court's power to consider a restraining order on the conviction or acquittal for any offense.