Legal Definitions - beyond a reasonable doubt

Beyond a reasonable doubt is a legal term used in criminal cases. It means that the prosecution must prove the defendant's guilt to a very high standard. The jury must be almost certain of the defendant's guilt before they can find them guilty.

For example, if someone is accused of murder, the prosecution must present evidence that proves the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that the evidence must be so strong that there is no other reasonable explanation for what happened.

The standard of proof for criminal cases is much higher than for civil cases. In civil cases, the standard is called "preponderance of the evidence," which only requires a certainty greater than 50 percent.

Overall, beyond a reasonable doubt is a very high standard of proof that the prosecution must meet in criminal cases.