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.
Well if you know your choices are “definitely go to prison for something you didn’t do and either die in prison or come out a completely different person, out of time.” or “trial by combat, maybe death, maybe freedom” I know which one I would choose.
Especially if I know my accuser knows they’re lying and it’s not just a misunderstanding.
England had the death penalty only abolished for murder in 1969.
So the options would have been, maybe get convicted of something you didn’t do and be hanged, or trial by combat so you have some agency in the whole either death or freedom thing I guess.