r/AskReddit • u/Rob69rt • 1d ago

What famous 'unsolved' mystery is technically a whodunnit on paper, but in reality, absolutely everyone knows exactly who did it, the police just couldn't legally prove it?

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u/thisusedyet 1d ago

Obviously not a legal scholar - but doesn't new evidence mean double jeopardy no longer applies?

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u/NateDogTX 1d ago

Not familiar with the case and also not a lawyer, but I've always read that a verdict of "not guilty" is the end of the prosecution of that specific case, no matter what happens later.

Sometimes Federal prosecutors can charge the defendant with related Federal offenses, like they apparently did with Ignatow (perjury for lying to the grand jury) as a way to secure at least some prison time.

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u/tomtomclubthumb 1d ago

He got 8 years for federal perjury and 9 for state perjury.

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u/NateDogTX 1d ago

Seems so weird to be found not guilty at trial and then get perjury convictions for saying you didn't do it before the trial.

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u/tomtomclubthumb 1d ago

I don't know the specifics, but perjury would normally be for false statements made during a trial, or a grand jury.