What does the Latin phrase "Corpus delicti" refer to?

The Latin phrase "Corpus delicti" translates to "body of the crime." It refers to the principle that there must be evidence that a crime has been committed before a person can be convicted of that crime. This means demonstrating that a specific criminal act occurred and that it resulted in harm or damage, which is critical in prosecution to establish the substantive elements of an offense.

Understanding "corpus delicti" is essential in legal proceedings because, without proving that a crime was indeed committed, charges against a defendant cannot be sustained, even if there is strong evidence of their involvement in the alleged crime. Thus, this phrase directly addresses the foundational requirement needed to proceed with criminal prosecutions.