Lega Maxim: Actus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea

—Compiled by Lkite Olu-Alabadan Ibukunoluwa

Actus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea: This Latin maxim can be roughly translated as “an act does not make a man guilty unless he be so in intention." 

This latin phrase represents a fundamental principle in criminal law. 

Essentially, this means that establishing criminal responsibility requires not only demonstrating the physical act (actus reus) and the mental state (mens rea) but also the alignment or simultaneity of the mental state with the conduct that leads to the physical act.