Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea – It means an act does not consider a man guilty of a crime unless his mind is equally guilty.There must be a criminal intention as well as unlawful act to make a man guilty.
- actus reus:-wrongful or guilty act.
- mens rea:-guilty state of mind.
Example :- Where a person accidentally bumps into someone on the street without any intent to harm or cause injury.The physical act of bumping into someone has occurred (actus reus), there is no guilty mind or intention (mens rea) behind it. In this case, the absence of mens rea would prevent the act from constituting a crime.
