ELEMENTS OF A CRIME: MENS REA AND ACTUS REUS

A crime is not merely an deed. To be deemed criminal, it must encompass both the physical movement known as actus reus and the mental state referred to mens rea. Actus reus refers to the guilty act itself. It encompasses any deliberate movement or omission that violates a criminal law. Mens rea, on the other hand, is the intent behind the action. I