History Main / GuiltyUntilSomeoneElseIsGuilty

* ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy'': Talon Karrde is suspected of hiring Imperials that attacked a smuggler meeting because data was planted in his ship implicating him. Once Niles Ferrier says the name of the Imperial Lieutenant [[INeverSaidItWasPoison despite nobody mentioning it]], everyone realizes he Niles was actually responsible, proving Karrde's innocence.

* ''Series/BeyondBeliefFactOrFiction'': In the "Positive ID" episode, a reporter goes to the local police precinct to find a story, only to be identified as a liquor store robber, and he's even shown footage of him holding the cashier at gunpoint. After spending several hours in lockup, where he doubts his own innocence, he's freed and shown the real robber who looks like him. He manages to dig up information on the robber, and turns out [[SeparatedAtBirth they are twin brothers given up for adoption]]. While the reporter was adopted by a loving couple, his brother through different foster homes, being abused all the while, until he aged out of the system.

* An episode of ''Series/BeyondBeliefFactOrFiction'' featured a story called "Positive ID." In the story, a reporter goes to the local police precinct to find a story, only to be identified as a liquor store robber, and he's even shown footage of him holding the cashier at gunpoint. After spending several hours in lockup, where he doubts his own innocence, he's freed and shown the real robber who looks like him. He manages to dig up information on the robber, and turns out [[SeparatedAtBirth they are twin brothers given up for adoption]]. While the reporter was adopted by a loving couple, his brother through different foster homes, being abused all the while, until he aged out of the system.

* An episode of ''Series/BeyondBeliefFactOrFiction'' featured a story called "Positive ID." In the story, a reporter goes to the local police precinct to find a story, only to be identified as a liquor store robber, and he's even shown footage of him holding the cashier at gunpoint. After spending several hours in lockup, where he doubts his own innocence, he's freed and shown the real robber who looks like him. He manages to dig up information on the robber, and turns out [[SeparatedAtBirth they are twin brothers given up for adoption]]. While the reporter was adopted by a loving couple, his brother through different foster homes, being abused all the while, until he aged out of the system.

* ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfTomSawyer'': Muff Potter is accused of the murder of Dr Robinson; an allegation he doesn't contest because he blacked out drunk at the crime scene and woke up with a knife in his hand. After his arrest, no one in town doubts that he did it. When he is about to be sentenced to death, Tom Sawyer steps out at the trial because he and Huckleberry Finn witnessed Injun Joe commit the act and then frame Muff. Joe, who is present, flees from the courtroom, leading to all charges against Muff be dropped.

* In ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfTomSawyer'', Muff Potter is accused of the murder of Dr Robinson; an allegation he doesn't contest because he blacked out drunk at the crime scene and woke up with a knife in his hand. After his arrest, no one in town doubts that he did it. When he is about to be sentenced to death, Tom Sawyer steps out at the trial because he and Huckleberry Finn witnessed Injun Joe commit the act and then frame Muff. Joe, who is present, flees from the courtroom, leading to all charges against Muff be dropped.

* In the first case of ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'', Makoto Naegi is the first suspect. Because of the mechanics of a game over, Makoto gets voted out as the Blackened even after he's proven innocent.

* ''Literature/LittleMen'': Nat is accused of theft. He's the only suspect and assumed guilty because for two reasons: he was the only one besides the victim who knew where the money was and, he has a history of lying to make himself look better, which he's trying to overcome). The other boys treat him like dirt until the true thief reveals himself.

* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': In "Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind", the Rick we follow throughout the show (Rick C-137) is arrested by the Citadel of Ricks, accused of murdering other Ricks. His portal gun history seems to corroborate this charge, and in any case his refusal to have anything to do with the Citadel of Ricks makes him suspect among the others. He's only let off the hook when he escapes and tracks down the actual culprit.

* An episode of ''Series/BeyondBeliefFactOrFiction'' featured a story called "Possitive ID." In the story, a reporter goes to the local police precinct to find a story, only to be identified as a liquor store robber, and he's even shown footage pf him holding the cashier at gunpoint. After spending several hours in lockup, where he doubts his own innocence, he's freed and shown the real robber who looks like him. He manages to dig up information on the robber, and turns out [[SeparatedAtBirth they are twin brothers given up for adoption]]. While the reporter was adopted by a loving couple, his brother through different forster homes, beingabused all the while, until he aged out of the system.

* In ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfTomSawyer'', Muff Potter is accused of the murder of Dr Robinson; an allegation he doesn't contest because he blacked out drunk at the crime scene and woke up with a knife in his hand. After his arrest, no one in town doubts that he did it. When he appears to be sentenced to death, Tom Sawyer steps out at the trial because he and Huckleberry Finn witnessed Injun Joe commit the act and then frame Muff. Joe, who is present, flees from the courtroom, leading to all charges against Muff be dropped.

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Everyone except Briann, who received a confession from the real killer, believes Peter killed Lois in "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS6E4And5StewieKillsLoisAndLoisKillsStewie Stewie Kills Lois]]." This is because Peter admits he secretly wanted Lois dead after a fight, mentions taking out a life insurance policy on her right before she died, and photos of Lois being brutally murdered were discovered in his trash can. At his trial, Lois shows up alive and names Stewie her attacker, clearing Peter.

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[[folder:Video Games]]
* VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine: The people of Delfino Harbor believe that Mario is the one who polluted their archipelago with insidious paint (despite the fact that Mario looks very different from the sinister-looking Shadow Mario). The court of Delfino Harbor decide that Mario is to be held responsible for the paint until the actual criminal is captured.

* ‘’VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine’’: The people of Delfino Harbor believe that Mario is the one who polluted their archipelago with insidious paint (despite the fact that Mario looks very different from the sinister-looking Shadow Mario). The court of Delfino Harbor decide that Mario is to be held responsible for the paint until the actual criminal is captured.

* ‘’VideoGames/SuperMarioSunshine’’: The people of Delfino Harbor believe that Mario is the one who polluted their archipelago with insidious paint (despite the fact that Mario looks very different from the sinister-looking Shadow Mario). The court of Delfino Harbor decide that Mario is to be held responsible for the paint until the actual criminal is captured.

* ''Animation/SimpleSamosa'': In the "[[Recap/SimpleSamosaEpisode29SamosaMama Samosa Mama]]" episode, Samosa is the target suspect of kidnapping but never actually commited the misdeed. The only people who believe he's innocent are his friends, one of whom (specifically Vada) goes to locate the actual "perpetrator"[[note]]he never kidnapped the assumed victims at all and was actually looking for those friends of his[[/note]], Special Samosa, and brings him to the courtroom [[JustInTime right as Samosa is about to be wrongfully punished over it]].

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Everyone except Brain, who received a confession from the real killer, believes Peter killed Lois in "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS6E4And5StewieKillsLoisAndLoisKillsStewie Stewie Kills Lois]]." This is because Peter admits he secretly wanted Lois dead after a fight, mentions taking out a life insurance policy on her right before she died, and photos of Lois being brutally murdered were discovered in his trash can. At his trail, Lois shows up alive and names Stewie her attacker, clearing Peter.

* In ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfTomSawyer'', Muff Potter is accused of the murder of Dr Robinson; an allegation he doesn't contest because he blacked out drunk at the crime scene and woke up with a knife in his hand. After his arrest, no one in town doubts that he did it. When he appears to be sentenced to death, Tom Sawyer steps out at the trial because he and Huckleberry Finn witnessed Injun Joe commit the act and then frame Muff. Joe, who is present, flees from the court room.