COMPONENTS 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 conduct known as actus reus and the mental state called mens rea. Actus reus refers to the criminal act itself. It consists of any deliberate movement or omission that violates a criminal law. Mens rea, on the other hand, is the mental state behind the action.