In February 1659, Helen Heriot, a resident of Haddington, became the subject of a legal proceeding that unfolded within the structure of a formally fenced court. The proceedings were overseen by Justices of the Peace, who, rather than employing a jury, arrived at a verdict of guilty on February 21, 1659. Her indictment, though undated, detailed serious allegations, including the charge of participating in a witches' meeting. During her detention in the Tolbooth on the day of her trial, Helen provided a recorded confession to the authorities.
The reach of the legal proceedings against Helen extended beyond her own trial, as her name appeared in the testimonies of several other women facing similar charges during this period. She was denounced by Janet Wood, Marion Angus, Jean Sydserff, and Bessie Lacost, each of whom implicated her in their own accounts. Following the judgment in Haddington, the legal process required that Helen be transported to Edinburgh, where she was scheduled to appear on March 1, 1659, to receive her final sentence.