Beyond Any Reasonable Doubt If you have never attended a trial before, I would strongly advise you to pay a visit to your local court. Most proceedings are held in public which means that, as a citizen, you have the right to attend at least part of the trial. In the courtroom, both the prosecution and the defense go to great lengths to persuade a jury of the validity of their arguments. A witness called to give evidence is first examined by one party. The questions put to the witness seek to back up the calling party's claims or substantiate its submissions. The judge then gives the floor to the other party to conduct the cross-examination. The purpose of a cross-examination is to disprove the other party's case through asking questions that might well cast doubt on the evidence. After they have heard all the witnesses, the jury will weigh the evidence and eventually deliver a verdict, i.e. determine whether the accused or the defendant is to be found guilty or not. If he/she is found guilty, the accused is then sentenced to imprisonment or to a fine. If not, he/she is acquitted.