Anonymised case study

Minor injuries: acquittal after the accusations were withdrawn

A documented situation to understand the criminal process.

Judgment of acquittal examined; unverified firmness

The situation

An incident involving several persons was prosecuted as a possible minor offence of injury. There should be an indictment in the trial that upheld the claim of conviction.

What the decision records

The prosecutor withdrew the accusation and the injured persons did not maintain one. The court acquitted on the accusatory principle and made no party-specific costs order.

What this helps explain

The decision responds to the lack of charge at that trial. It is not possible to conclude that the withdrawal of any complaint automatically closes all criminal proceedings.