TIL in 1818, an Englishman accused of murder demanded a trial by combat. Surprisingly, the law that allowed for trial by combat was still valid, and the man was acquitted when his accuser declined the offer of battle. Trial by combat was abolished the following year.
Reading the article, it looks like the accused was originally acquitted in a jury trial, but the victim’s brother appealed and so they were going to try him again. At that point he asked for the trial by combat. I’m glad they just dropped it, sounds like the case was pretty flimsy.
lol its funnier in context