LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

UNDERSTANDING THE ELEMENTS OF A

CRIME

Lecturer: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekaterine Bakaradze

 ELEMENTS OF OFFENSE
 An individual commits a crime if he /she acts in a way that fulfills every element of an offense.
 What are the elements of the offense?

1. the act or conduct (actus reus) - დანაშაულებრივი ქმედება (ლათ. შემადგენლობა. საერთო
სამართლის ქვეყნებში ამ ტერმინის ქვეშ მოიაზრება დანაშაულის ჩადენისათვის აუცილებელი
ფიზიკური ქმედების ცალკეული ელემენტები, ანუ ის, რაც ქართულ სისხლის სამართალში
მიიჩნევა დანაშაულის ობიექტურ შემადგენლობად);
2. the individual’s mental state at the time of the act (mens rea) - განზრახვა (ლათ. ბრალი -
დასჯადობის აუცილებელი წინაპირობა. ანგლოამერიკულ სამართალში ამ ტერმინის ქვეშ
მოიაზრება პირის ფსიქიკური მდგომარეობა, აგოს პასუხი ჩადენილი დანაშაულისათვის.
ტერმინი ასევე თავის თავში მოიაზრებს ქმედებაში გამოვლენილ მართლსაწინააღმდეგო
ნებას. ქართულ სამართალში ბრალი არ განისაზღვრება მხოლოდ ფსიქოლოგიური
მასშტაბებით, ესაა მოსამართლის მიერ პირის ინდივიდუალურ-სამართლებრივი გაკიცხვა მის
მიერ ჩადენილი მართლსაწინააღმდეგო ქმედებისათვის. ბრალეული ქმედება შესაძლოა , იყოს
განზრახი ან გაუფრთხილებლობითი).
3. the causal link between the act and the offense.
In a criminal prosecution სს-ბრივი დევნის განხორციელებისას, the government has the burden of proof
(მტკიცების ტვირთი) to establish every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt (გონივრულ ეჭვს
მიღმა); and third, the individual's conduct (ქმედება) must be the cause (უნდა იყოს მიზეზი) of the crime.
STATE:
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING
PERSONS WOULD BE GUILTY OF
COMMITTING AN OFFENCE?

EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.

 CASE 1:

 Bichiko, a seven year old, was playing with his father’s rifle and killed his father’s
friend Givi.
 Is Bichiko guilty of committing an offence?
 1.Yes /No
 2. Why do you think this is yes or no?
 Mınor , underage, not mature
CASE 1. ANSWER
 No – Even though there is evidence (მტკიცებულება) of actus reus because
Bichiko committed an act prohibited by law which is taking the life of another
person. Mens rea does not apply as there was no intent (განზრახვა) or
motive.
 Bichiko, being a young child probably does not have the mental capacity to
know that playing with a rifle (იარაღი) could be harmful (საზიანო).
CASE 2.
 Tazo was hunting (ნადირობდა) with his friends. He was aiming at a bear, but
accidentally (შემთხვევით) shot (ესროლა) another hunter, Kirile.

 Is Tazo guilty of committing (ჩადენა) an offence (სამართალდარღვევა)?

CASE 3
 Ani was cleaning her gun. She thought that it was not loaded and pointed it at
her friend Gia saying, “I’m going to shoot.”
 Ani pulled the trigger (ჩახმახს გამოკრა ხელი) and a bullet (ტყვია) which was stuck in
the gun discharged and killed Gia .
 Is Ani guilty of committing an offence?
CASE 4
 Gugusha aimed to hit Tato in the leg with his slingshot, hit him on the temple and
killed him.

 Is Gugusha guilty of committing an offence?

CASE 5:
 Nika was walking through the park. He was frightened by his friend Nugzar,
but he didn’t see if it was his friend. Nika thought Nugzar had a gun, pulled out a
revolver and shot Nugzar, killing him.
Nugzar had no weapon at all.

Is Nika guilty of committing an offence?

CASE 6:
 Luka, who escaped from a mental hospital, shot and killed his wife.

 Is he guilty of committing an offence?

 Insane /mentally disabled
 He is mentally incapable
CASE 7:
 Mrs. Ediberidze is 80 year-old. She couldn’t bear (ატანა, გაძლება) any longer
to see her aged husband who was suffering. Mrs. Ediberidze gave him an overdose of
sleeping pills.
 Is she guilty of committing an offence?
CASE 8:
 Dadu, who is 20 years old, was playing shooting in the street. He accidentally
shot and injured a passing cyclist.
 Is he guilty of committing an offence?
 Adult /mature /he had already reached age of majority/ age of maturity
CASE 9:
 Dadu, who was continually insulted (შეურაცხყოფილი) by Dudu, could not
bear it any longer and shot him.
 Is Dadu guilty of committing an offence?
CASE 10:
 Klara was cleaning her rifle. Kukuri walked into the room and the gun went off
accidentally killing Kukuri.
 Is Klara guilty of committing an offence?