Corpus delicti
A Latin term meaning the "body of [the] crime" that refers to the idea that the requisite elements of a crime must be proven before an individual can be tried for the crime.
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
(core-pus dee-lick-tie) Latin for the "body of the crime." Used to describe physical evidence that a crime has been committed, such as the corpse of a murder victim or the charred frame of a torched building. It's used to refer to the underlying principle that, without evidence of a crime having been committed, it would be unjust to convict someone.
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:13 pm
