Law Dictionary of Legal Terminology

ACQUITTAL

ACQUITTAL, contracts. A release or discharge from an obligation or eng agement. According to Lord Coke there are three kinds of acquittal, namely; 1, By deed, when the party releases the obligation; 2, By prescription; 3, By tenure.Co. Lit. 100, a.

ACQUITTAL

ACQUITTAL, crim. law practice. The absolution of a party charged with a crime or misdemeanor.

2. Technically speaking, acquittal is – the absolution of a party accused on a trial before a traverse jury. 1 N. & M. 36; 3 M'Cord, 461.

3. Acquittals are of two kinds, in fact and in law. The former takes place when the jury upon trial finds a verdict of not guilty; the latter when a man is charged merely as an accessary, and the principal has been acquitted. 2 Inst. 384. An acquittal is a bar to any future prosecution for the offence alleged in the first indictment.