In this episode, David interrogates the unique Scottish verdict of not proven. Travelling to Ardlamont Estate in Argyll, he takes a look at the historic mystery of the death of Cecil Hambrough in 1893. The trial in Edinburgh was a public sensation, with Edinburgh at that time being at the forefront of forensic medicine. Alfred John Monson was released a free man having received a not proven verdict, and author Daniel Smith joins David to discuss the impact of Cecil’s murder and the trial which captured Scotland's imagination.

Lawyer and academic James Chalmers tells David about the brutal murder of Amanda Duffy in Hamilton in 1992. Despite what appeared to be an abundance of forensic evidence, the accused was also given a not proven verdict.

David is also joined in the studio by resident forensic scientist Helen Meadows. Helen reviews the cases of Cecil Hambrough and Amanda Duffy, and also analyses the wealth of forensic evidence left behind. They compare the different eras, and how problems with communicating scientific evidence to juries still persists to this day.

Former prosecutor and crime writer Allan Nicol is David’s last guest, and they discuss the impact of the third verdict on Scottish justice, and what would happen if it were to be removed. Show less