MSPs back justice reforms abolishing Scotland's not proven verdict

MSPs have voted to back a “landmark” justice reform Bill on Wednesday afternoon, which will abolish the unique not proven verdict in Scotland’s courts.

The Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform legislation passed with 71 to 46 votes and one abstention, introducing a series of measures to reform the justice system in Scotland.

Juries in Scotland currently have three verdicts available when considering the evidence after a trial. They can find an accused person either guilty, not guilty, or that the case against them is not proven.

Like not guilty, the not proven verdict results in an accused person being acquitted. The verdict is used “disproportionately” in rape cases.

Under the new law, this third option will be abolished.

The new legislation will also require a majority of two-thirds of jurors to support a conviction, instead of the current simple majority.

It will create a new, independent Victims Commissioner and expand the ability of those affected by crime to make victim impact statements in court.

A specialist sexual offences court will also be established under the legislation, which will give victims of such offences a lifelong right to anonymity.

The bill will also force the Parole Board to consider if killers have provided information on the whereabouts of their victims’ remains when considering if they should be freed from prison.

The change is known as Suzanne’s Law after Suzanne Pilley, who was murdered in 2010 but whose killer has never revealed the location of her body.

The vote comes after MSPs spent several hours debating amendments to the legislation on Tuesday.

Scottish justice secretary Angela Constance already said that if the “landmark Bill” is passed, it will “transform the experiences of victims and witnesses within Scotland’s justice system”.

She said the changes would mean that “victims will be heard, supported, protected and treated with compassion” while the rights of the accused “will continue to be safeguarded.”

However, the Scottish Conservatives argued that “common sense changes” were needed for them to back the Bill – which they have claimed is a “a Victims’ Bill in name only” and a “wasted opportunity”.

The Tories welcomed the abolition of the not proven verdict, as well as an earlier decision by Scottish ministers to abandon plans to introduce judge-only trials for cases of rape and attempted rape.

Speaking before the vote on Wednesday, Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr argued that the Scottish Government “must go further” in changing the legislation, otherwise ministers will be “selling victims short”.