to think the justice system is a fucking joke

[starshaker]

I was in court this week. I was raped when I was younger. The verdict they came back with is not proven. So basically they didnt think he was innocent but didnt find him guilty. He got off scot free. He has ruined my life and he gets to just walk away and carry on with his life. He can play the vctim and have people think i am a liar.

This process was meant to bring me closure. I just feel worse now. I feel like im not safe and that anybody can hurt me and they will just get away with it because i am so insignificant and really i dont actually matter.

No wonder people dont report this. I was ripped to bits in the witness box and i thought it would be worth it because i was telling the truth.

The truth isnt actually relevant though. Im not relevant

Not proven - it's a concept of 'we are pretty certain you are guilty, but we don't gave the evidence yet'. Most people believe this, I think. Doesn't it also mean that they also call a retrial if evidence comes up at a later stage?

Most people will look at someone with a NP verdict and assume they are guilty.

I'm sorry you have had to go through all that - again - and to end up without a conviction. Please get all they help ypu can. You can't just 'handle it' by yourself.

Not proven - it's a concept of 'we are pretty certain you are guilty, but we don't gave the evidence yet'. Most people believe this, I think. Doesn't it also mean that they also call a retrial if evidence comes up at a later stage?

Most people will look at someone with a NP verdict and assume they are guilty.

I'm sorry you have had to go through all that - again - and to end up without a conviction. Please get all they help ypu can. You can't just 'handle it' by yourself.

Im drunk, im miserable and feeling very stupid. I know im moaning but im just so pissed off. I need to get a grip and not do anything stupid. Not hurt myself stupid but hurt him. Not in a violent way but in a way that people will know what he is. But then they would know what i am. Its shit. Im shit. Im a mess and i cant fix me

You have my sympathies but "Not Proven" is simply another acquittal verdict, the same as "not guilty". Colloquially, people believe it means "we think you did it but we can't prove it" but actually it doesn't. When you sit on a jury they make that very clear.

I believe you, we all believe you.

This is going to sound trite but the best thing you can do is live your life.

No one in their right mind thinks you lied, the most they think is that there wasn't enough other evidence.

It's not the right verdict, but it is a final verdict, there can (as I understand Scottish law) be no retrial, but also no appeal because it is an acquittal.

I know that is not much, and I know you have been through a terrible time, more than once, but you know you didn't lie.

I believe you.

I believe you.

No nicename - as I understand it Not Proven has the same effect as Not Guilty.

In Scotland as in England the law on double jeopardy has been relaxed in recent years, but the only rape case where that has ever worked involved a man (putting it loosely) who, having been acquitted of one rape went on to commit several more by the same "modus operandi" - and a re-trial of the first case was authorised. That's not gong to happen where the original case was a long time ago which seems to be what OP tells us.

So, no: there will not be a retrial and it would be cruel to OP to suggest that there could be. Not that she might want to put herself through it again and perhaps get the same result.

I interpret a Not Proven verdict as Yes we think you are guilty, but the Prosecution team didn't have enough evidence. If a Not Proven verdict meant the jury didn't believe you, then surely they would have found him Not Guilty.
I think it must be very hard to 'prove' an historic rape, but you should take comfort in the fact that you were brave enough to face your attacker in court, and you are therefore brave enough to point out to anyone who suggests that you were lying, that actually, he was not found not guilty.