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In reply to the discussion: Amanda Knox will again go before an Italian court [View all]still_one
(92,769 posts)A not guilty verdict on all charges normally ends a criminal casethe prosecution cannot appeal an acquittal. A guilty verdict on some or all charges, however, doesnt necessarily mean the case is over. Defendants who think theyve been wrongfully convicted can:
make a motion asking the trial judge to overturn the jurys guilty verdict and enter a verdict of not guilty
move for a new trialthat is, ask the judge to set aside the jurys verdict, declare a mistrial, and start over, or
appeal or seek a writ, which means asking a higher court to reverse a conviction.
An appeal is a request to a higher (appellate) court to review and change the decision of a lower court. The defendant may challenge the conviction itself or the sentence (without attacking the underlying conviction). A successful appeal usually restores a case to the initial stages, but can sometimes end the case altogether (such as when the appellate court finds that theres insufficient evidence to retry the defendant).
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/appealing-conviction.html
http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-rights/when-double-jeopardy-protection-ends.html
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