Tories pledge to axe Not Proven verdict and boost victims rights
The Scottish Conservatives unveil a justice manifesto for the Holyrood elections
The Scottish Tories are pledging to end Scotland's unique not proven verdict as one of their criminal justice manifesto pledges ahead of May's election.
It has been controversial in recent years and the Tories will look to make a criminal trial a straight decision between guilty and not guilty if the law is passed.
Leader, Douglas Ross, said a so-called victims law would also put those who have suffered a criminal act at the heart of the justice system.
New rights for victims
He announced the Bill would be the first act of his party in the new parliamentary term and would also include what he calls Suzanne's law and Michelle's law.
Named after Suzanne Pilley, who was murdered in 2010, the legislation would mean convicted murderers cannot be released until they reveal the whereabouts of their victim's remains.
While Michelle's law, named after 17-year-old Michelle Stewart who was murdered in 2008, the families of victims would be given a greater say over release arrangements.
Mr Ross said: "We are on the side of crime victims whose pain and suffering is often compounded by their experience of the criminal justice process.
"There is so much we can do to improve the prevention and detection of crime but also how victims and their families can be treated with decency and respect.
Tougher sentences pledge
Mr Ross outlined a number of other justice policies his party proposes.
They include doubling the maximum sentence for attacks on emergency workers to two years, introducing whole life custody orders, ending automatic early release and enabling all victims of crime to be able to make impact statements.
He argues the not proven verdict does not give victims the certainty or clarity they need after a court case.
He said: "There is a disproportionate number of not proven verdicts in rape cases and that certainly doesn't deliver for the victim and it still leaves the accused with an uncertain verdict.
"Guilty or not guilty is clear, not proven is too ambiguous.''
He also said the hate crime legislation recently passed at Holyrood, which the Conservatives have vowed to partially repeal, is "not fit for purpose."