What does corpus delicti mean?

Definitions for corpus delicti
ˈkɔr pəs dɪˈlɪk taɪ; ˈkɔr pər əcor·pus delic·ti

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word corpus delicti.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. corpus delictinoun

    the body of evidence that constitute the offence; the objective proof that a crime has been committed (sometimes mistakenly thought to refer to the body of a homicide victim)

Wiktionary

  1. corpus delictinoun

    The body of the victim

  2. corpus delictinoun

    The evidence that a crime has occurred.

ChatGPT

  1. corpus delicti

    Corpus delicti, from Latin, literally means "body of the crime". In legal terms, it refers to the principle that a crime must be proven to have occurred before a person can be convicted of committing that crime. It includes conclusive evidence of a crime, such as the occurrence of an injury or loss, and proof that the injury or loss was caused by someone's criminal activity.

Wikidata

  1. Corpus delicti

    Corpus delicti is a term from Western jurisprudence referring to the principle that a crime must have been proven to have occurred before a person can be convicted of committing that crime. For example, a person cannot be tried for larceny unless it can be proven that property has been stolen. Likewise, in order for a person to be tried for arson it must be proven that a criminal act resulted in the burning of a property. Black's Law Dictionary defines "corpus delicti" as: "the fact of a crime having been actually committed." In the Anglo-American legal system, the concept has its outgrowth in several principles. Many jurisdictions hold as a legal rule that a defendant's out-of-court confession, alone, is insufficient evidence to prove the defendant's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. A corollary to this rule is that an accused cannot be convicted solely upon the testimony of an accomplice. Some jurisdictions also hold that without first showing independent corroboration that a crime happened, the prosecution may not introduce evidence of the defendant's statement. Corpus delicti is one of the most important concepts in a murder investigation. When a person disappears and cannot be contacted, many police agencies initiate a missing person case. If, during the course of the investigation, detectives believe that he/she has been murdered, then a "body" of evidentiary items, including physical, demonstrative, and testimonial evidence, must be obtained to establish that the missing individual has indeed been murdered before a suspect can be charged with homicide. The best and easiest evidence establishment in these cases is the physical body of the deceased. However, in the event that a physical body is not obviously present or has not yet been discovered, it is possible to prove a crime took place if sufficient circumstantial evidence is presented to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suggested Resources

  1. corpus delicti

    Song lyrics by corpus delicti -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by corpus delicti on the Lyrics.com website.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of corpus delicti in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of corpus delicti in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1


Translations for corpus delicti

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"corpus delicti." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/corpus+delicti>.

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