noun phrase · academic
double jeopardy
UK/ˌdʌbəl ˈdʒepədi/US/ˌdʌbəl ˈdʒepərdi/DOU·ble JE·par·dy
the legal rule that prohibits trying a person twice for the same offence
Examples
“Many constitutions protect citizens from double jeopardy.”
“The court ruled that retrying the accused would amount to double jeopardy.”
“Double jeopardy prevents prosecutors from appealing an acquittal by re-trying the defendant.”
Band 8 sentence
“The defence argued that a second prosecution would violate the defendant's protection against double jeopardy.”
Collocations
- protect against double jeopardy
- claim double jeopardy
Word family
Common mistakes
double punishment→double jeopardy
being tried twice→double jeopardy
Say it for a higher band
5tried twice→6being tried twice→7+double jeopardy
Synonyms
autrefois acquit/convicted
Easily confused
retrial
“After new evidence emerged, the court ordered a retrial in the complex case.”
Related words
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In Crime & Law
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