Corpus delicti

The corpus delicti refers to the physical item or piece of evidence that embodies the offense itself, such as the weapon in a case of violent crime or the stolen property in a theft. This concept derives from Latin and is employed in Dutch criminal law to denote the material core of the offense.

It is relevant because it contributes to the presentation of evidence and helps to substantiate the existence of the offense, independent of the suspect. Without the corpus delicti, it can sometimes be difficult to secure a conviction.

In practice, the corpus delicti is carefully secured, photographed and, where appropriate, examined by experts so that it may serve as evidence in the criminal proceedings.