State v. Burley

  • Facts: ∆ was charged with homicide after the death of a victim; the central issue concerned the actus reus / mens rea / causation framework for the homicide statute.
  • Issue: Whether the State established the elements of homicide—conduct, mens rea, and causation—beyond a reasonable doubt.
  • Rule: Homicide requires (1) conduct (act or omission upon legal duty), (2) the requisite mens rea (intent to kill, intent to cause GBI, depraved heart, or felony-murder mens rea), and (3) causation in fact and proximate cause linking ∆'s conduct to the death.
  • Analysis: The court applied the standard homicide framework, examining whether each element was satisfied on the trial record.
  • Judgment: [Outcome depends on facts—affirmed/reversed.]

Reading: pp. 406–09. See General Rule.