mens rea
Noun
Meaning
(law) criminal intent; the thoughts and intentions behind a wrongful act (including knowledge that the act is illegal); often at issue in murder trials
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If the delusions do not prevent the defendant from having mens rea there will be no defence.
In some jurisdictions, the terms mens rea and actus reus have been replaced by alternative terminology.
Like most other crimes in the common law system, to be convicted of perjury one must have had the intention ( mens rea ) to commit the act, and to have actually committed the act ( actus reus ).
Model Penal Code Since its publication in 1957, the formulation of mens rea set forth in the Model Penal Code has been highly influential throughout North America in clarifying the discussion of the different modes of culpability.
Modes of culpability The levels of mens rea and the distinction between them vary between jurisdictions.
Only a small percentage of offences are defined with this mens rea requirement.