What is meant by "corpus delecti"?

The term "corpus delecti" refers specifically to the "body of crime," which is a fundamental concept in criminal law. It emphasizes the necessity to establish that a crime has been committed before a person can be prosecuted for it. The corpus delecti is typically composed of two elements: the fact that a crime occurred and the identity of the person who committed it. This means that in order to prove that a crime has taken place, it is essential to present evidence showing that a wrongful act occurred, as well as establishing the connection to the accused. This helps to ensure that individuals are not charged or convicted based solely on mere accusations without substantiating evidence of an actual crime.