"An act does not make one guilty unless the mind is also legally blame worthy." this statement can be inferred by the following maxim. |
Ejusdem Generis Ignorantia Facit Excusat Actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea Nemo debet esse judex in propria sua causa |
Actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea |
The correct answer is Option (3) → Actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea This maxim translates to "An act does not make a person guilty unless there is a guilty mind". To be found guilty of a crime, a person must not only have committed a wrongful act (actus reus), but also have done so with a culpable mental state (mens rea). This mental state can vary depending on the crime, but it generally involves a level of intention, knowledge, or recklessness. For example, in a murder case, the prosecution would need to prove that the defendant not only caused the victim's death but also had the intention to kill or cause serious bodily harm. This principle helps to ensure that only those who have committed crimes with a guilty mind are punished, protecting innocent individuals from wrongful convictions.
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