Mens Rea
"A guilty mind" — the mental element required for criminal liability.
In Simple Terms
For most crimes, it's not enough that you did the act — the law also looks at whether you meant to.
Detailed Legal Meaning
Mens rea refers to the culpable mental state (intention, knowledge, recklessness, or negligence) that the prosecution must generally establish alongside the guilty act (actus reus) to secure a conviction for most offences, subject to statutory exceptions creating strict liability.
Common Court Usage
Central to arguments on whether the requisite intent for a charged offence has been established.