Could a Medieval Duel Save Him?

[00:00:00]Could an acquitted man escape a murder case by demanding a medieval duel?

[00:00:04]England, 1818.

[00:00:07]Abraham Thornton has already been cleared by a jury after Mary Ashford is found dead, but Mary's brother, William, refuses to let the verdict stand. He uses an ancient private appeal of murder to drag Thornton back into court. Then Thornton answers with something older.

[00:00:24]He does not ask for another jury. He throws down a gauntlet. The judges now face an absurd problem. Under English law, trial by battle is still technically alive. If the accusation is not overwhelming, the accused can demand combat. So William has two choices.

[00:00:41]Fight Thornton or abandon the case. He refuses the fight. Thornton walks free, not [music] because battle proves innocence, but because the loophole is real. Parliament sees the embarrassment.

[00:00:54]One year later, it abolishes both murder appeals and [music] trial by battle. The last medieval duel in English law never happens, but it kills the law that allowed it.