Levin College of Law
The paradigm case of a crime lies in the proof, beyond reasonable doubt, that a person is guilty of two things. First, the accused must commit an act which is deemed by society to be criminal, or actus reus . Second, the accused must have the requisite malicious intent to do a criminal act, or mens rea . Criminal systems of the civil law tradition distinguish between intention in the broad sense , and negligence. Negligence does not carry criminal responsibility unless a particular crime provides for its punishment.
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