Section 99A Verdict of guilty or not guilty and majority for guilty verdictF1

(1)

In respect of each charge, the jury must deliver a verdict of either—

(a)

guilty, or

(b)

not guilty.

(2)

The jury may return a verdict of guilty only if a majority of the jurors are in favour of that verdict.

(3)

Otherwise, the jury must return a verdict of not guilty.

(4)

For the purposes of subsection (2), a majority of jurors are in favour of a verdict if—

(a)

in the case of a jury consisting of 14 or 15 jurors, at least 10 of the jurors are so in favour,

(b)

in the case of a jury consisting of 13 jurors, at least 9 jurors are so in favour,

(c)

in the case of a jury consisting of 12 jurors, at least 8 jurors are so in favour.

Annotations

F1: S. 99A inserted (1.1.2026) by Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 (asp 12), ss. 65(2), 116(2); S.S.I. 2025/393, reg. 2(1)(b) (with reg. 3)