Locus delicti
Place of the offence
The place where the criminal offence was committed.
Locus delicti is the Latin term for the place where an offence was committed. This may be the location where the act was performed or where its consequences occurred.
The concept is relevant for determining the competent court and the applicable rules of law in criminal proceedings. In cross-border situations, it assists in resolving jurisdictional disputes.
In practice, the locus delicti is established on the basis of the specific facts and circumstances of the case, which may affect both the proceedings and the severity of the penalty.
“The advocate argued that the locus delicti lay in Rotterdam, so that the court there had jurisdiction.”
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