What does "Not Guilty but Not Innocent" mean?

[Quixote1818]

Huff post has this as their lead. Did the jury make some kind of statement that they had reasonable doubt but still think he probably was guilty?

[cthulu2016]

1. The burden of proof in American law means that

no criminal trial results in a finding of innocence.

All that must be found to acquit is an absence of proof of guilt.

[cprise]

13. and no burden of responsibility for assailants wielding lethal force

Martin's right to life was dismissed outright, and not balanced with Zimmerman's right to a presumption of innocence.

[TheKentuckian]

16. Presumption of innocence cannot be balanced, it is there or it it is not.

I have no idea what you even mean by balanced, what does that look like legally?

[JustAnotherGen]

2. It means

He just like OJ - we all know he did it . . . But he's not guilty in the eyes of the law.

[Spider Jerusalem]

3. In Scots law this is rendered by the verdict "not proven". (n/t)

[Lee-Lee]

17. That would be a great addition to

Our legal system.

Because it fits perfectly here.

[Nye Bevan]

4. Say a juror believes there is a 70% chance that the accused is guilty.

That is not "beyond a reasonable doubt", so they have to return a not guilty verdict. But they are not stating that the defendant is innocent.

[avebury]

5. Not guilty is not the same as innocent.

Not guilty does not say that Zimmerman did not do anything wrong. It just means that the state did not have sufficient evidence to prove guilt. Self defense would have been a far better verdict then not guilty.

[Rex]

6. It means dead men tell no tales.

nt.

[mzmolly]

10. Yep.

Sadly.

[Rex]

11. A tragedy imo.

[arely staircase]

7. not guilty does not men inncocent in the American system

it simply means the government didn't prove their case.

[Tx4obama]

8. Means the jury didn't find enough evidence to find guilt. But does not mean innocent. n/t

[nsd]

9. Huffpost is a crappy website.

How they frame things means nothing. The jury system decides between "guilty" and "not guilty". That's it. "Innocent" has no meaning in this system. Huffpost is just stirring the pot for page views.

[Ms. Toad]

12. Actually there is a finding of innocence

Although it is not relevant in this case.

When someone is released after being wrongly convicted and seeks compensation from the state, a finding of innocence is often required before compensation can be awarded.

[TeamPooka]

14. That is correct. A certificate fo innocence must be signed by the Sec of State where the crime was

done and served
they don't like to do this because of the financial liability.

[Ms. Toad]

15. In some states there is a separate judicial proceeding -

similar to the initial trial.

[Quixote1818]

18. Thats what I thought. Thanks. nt