Maybe we should just keep witnesses to characters in the show?
However, that means that any of Rumple’s crimes before Regina’s birth wouldn’t have a trial since there are no witnesses still alive to testify against Rumple and you can’t convict someone on hearsay. The only Rumple crime that could be brought up before that time would probably be the Milah murder/severing Hook’s hand. But again that would be Rumple’s word against Hook and the only witness Smee is currently a rat somewhere in Storybrooke.
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Keeper of Felix