Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea

1 What it means

An act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty. Most crimes need both a wrongful act and a guilty mental state.

2 Use it in a sentence

The accused was acquitted because the prosecution proved the act but not the intention, applying actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea.

3 Make it stick

Write your own sentence using Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea about a case or topic you are studying this week, then check it against the meaning above.

4 Related words

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