Perverse Verdicts by Juries

A perverse verdict is one that actually goes entirely contrary to the law. So a verdict, for example, of not guilty is brought in where there was no actual defence available to the defendant. It doesn't happen the other way round. You can't get a perverse conviction, because if there is no evidence upon which a jury could convict, it's the duty of the judge to direct an acquittal. And so very, very occasionally you get a situation where the jury brings in a verdict which, on the face of it, was not available on the evidence. I shall be very interested to see what comes of discussions on that subject in due course. What you might call regularly abused over the