Legal Dictionary of Pakistan

Autrefois acquit

A plea in bar of arraignment that the defendant has been acquitted of the offense. - also termed former acquittal. See double jeopardy."suppose that a transgressor is charged and acquitted for lack of evidence, and evidence has now come to light showing beyond doubt that he committed the crime. Even so, he cannot be tried a second time. He has what is termed, in legal frenglish, the defence of autrefois acquit. Similarly, if he is convicted, even though he is let off very lightly, he cannot afterwards be charged on fresh evidence, because he will have the defence of autrefois convict. These uncouth phrases have never been superseded, though they might well be called the defence of 'previous acquittal' and 'previous conviction'; and double jeopardy' makes an acceptable generic name for both." glanville williams, textbook of criminal law 24 (1978).