exoneration

But the sheer number of Spacey’s accusers suggests that his acquittal was hardly an exoneration.

After facing criticism for recording just four exonerations from 2015 to 2020, the unit has been involved in 12 in just the last four years, according to a district attorney’s office spokesperson.

Deen may be past the point of complete public exoneration, but at least she has integrity to help her sleep at night — no stone over the head required.

The spokesperson added: "We stand ready to annihilate Ms Pisciotta's tall tales before a jury − an exoneration so inevitable that even she, lost in her fog of fantasy, must surely see it coming."

This new script is exemplified by stories of death row inmates who have been freed by revelations of injustice and of others who were executed despite strong cases for exoneration.