In Order for a Defendant to Be Convicted of a Crime

question 47

Essay

In order for a defendant to be convicted of a crime the prosecution must successfully offer proof beyond a reasonable doubt of each element of the crime charged. List the five elements of crime. Do you believe it is fair that a person might not be held responsible for a crime if there is an element missing? For example, a person who does the actus reus (sells drugs to a neighbor) but who lacks the mens rea (sold the drugs because of death threats from their roommate if they didn't complete the drug deal).

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