Murder reviews with end of 'double jeopardy'

[emad]

Telegraph
By Joshua Rozenberg, Legal Editor
(Filed: 04/04/2005)

The 800-year-old "double jeopardy" rule, which prevented anyone being tried twice for the same crime, has been largely abolished for serious cases under changes taking effect in England and Wales today.

Where there is "new and compelling evidence" pointing to a former accused's guilt, the Court of Appeal will now be able to quash an acquittal and order a re-trial.

The changes will apply retrospectively, so that people who have been cleared of offences ranging from murder to drug dealing may now find themselves back in the dock if new DNA evidence, further witnesses or a reliable confession come to light.

Double jeopardy is thought to date back at least to the Magna Carta, and has been widely copied in legal systems around the world.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/04/njeop04.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/04/04/ixhome.html

DAMN...and I saw the movie once or twice....