Should Richard Allen be found not guilty on all the charges, he can stand on the courthouse steps afterwards and declare “I did do it, ha ha,”and yet he cannot be tried again for the SAME CHARGES.
This is due to the Constitutional clause of Double Jeopardy.
IANAL, so I’m open to correction, but I believe that if there exists some OTHER charge regarding this case that he is not currently charged with, he can be charged on that. Let’s pretend it’s something like theft of their clothing, or something else of that ilk that is true, but I doubt was bothered with in light of the kidnapping and murders.
I THINK I have that correctly, but will say JMO in case I misinterpreted.
en.wikipedia.org
ETA: just checked with my boyfriend, who is a lawyer and teaches Constitutional Law (and with whom I should have checked first, of course).
He says the above is accurate, but explained something else could happen DURING the trial and is called “Jeopardy attaches.” Something to do with the prosecution bringing in something that the judge already forbade.