verdict
n. 1. A jury’s finding on the matters referred to it in a criminal or civil trial. The jury is asked to give its decision to the court separately for each of the questions it was asked to consider. A jury must try to reach a unanimous verdict but in both criminal and civil proceedings a majority verdict may be accepted in certain circumstances. If in criminal proceedings the jury cannot agree a verdict at all they are discharged and the accused may be retried by a different jury. In criminal proceedings a jury may decide that the accused is not guilty of the offence charged but guilty of some lesser offence (see alternative verdict). See also general verdict; perverse verdict; special verdict. 2. The finding of a coroner’s inquest. See also inquisition. |