CHAPTER THREE. PART FOUR.

Actus reus! (Part 2 of 2)

A New Life in a New Country…

The standards associated with common law, and the prosecution of criminals, are well-established. This is true throughout much of the world. More so in so-called Western countries.

In criminal law, as various legal professionals can and frequently do testify to, there are two key elements that must be proven. Naturally, without them, proving the commission of a crime can be rather tricky. It has been done but, obviously, these are rare cases that don’t fit the metaphorical mould.

Actus reus, a Latin legal phrase meaning “guilty act”, is an important element in proving the commission of a crime. It lives along side the phrase mens rea. Mens rea, also a Latin legal turn of phrase, means “guilty mind”. In the United States, as so often is the case with Americans, there are other phrases in use.

Americans, rather than resorting to the use of Law Latin, often use the phrases external element or the objective element of a crime in stead of actus reus. It’s just the way the cookie crumbles.

Fletcher, having arrived in the United States aboard a British Airways operated flight, was ready to make a decision. The flight landed at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday, 10 Jan. 2001…