Corpus delicti is a Latin term meaning which of the following?

• A. The physical evidence at the scene
• B. The offender's motive
• C. The location of the crime
• D. Body of crime

Answer: (D)

Corpus delicti refers to the body of the crime—the essential facts that prove a crime has actually occurred. It’s about establishing that a wrongful act happened and that there were real harms or losses resulting from it, not just that someone did something illegal in theory. In practice, this means there must be independent evidence of the crime itself (for example, death in a murder case or unlawful taking of property in theft) to show that the offense occurred, beyond a suspect’s statement or motive. The term translates directly to "body of the crime," highlighting the need for concrete proof of the crime's occurrence. Motive or location aren’t what this term describes, and while physical evidence at the scene can help establish that a crime occurred, the core idea is the actual crime itself—the body of the crime.