Legal Definitions - conjectio

Conjectio refers to a conclusion or a 'fact' that is not directly stated but is logically figured out or inferred from other pieces of evidence or information. It is about drawing a reasonable deduction based on what is known, even if that specific 'fact' wasn't directly observed or explicitly stated.

• Example 1: Criminal Investigation

  Imagine a detective investigating a theft. They find a window forced open, muddy footprints leading from the window to a safe that has been emptied, and a unique button found near the safe that matches buttons on a suspect's jacket. The detective forms a conjectio that the suspect entered through the window, emptied the safe, and lost a button in the process, even though no one directly witnessed the suspect committing the act. This conclusion is inferred from the combination of physical evidence.

• Example 2: Business Practices

  Consider two companies, "Alpha Corp" and "Beta Ltd," who have had a long-standing business relationship. For years, Alpha Corp has regularly supplied Beta Ltd with raw materials, and Beta Ltd has consistently paid for these materials within 45 days, even without a formal written contract for every single order. If a dispute arises over a particular shipment where no specific written agreement exists, a court might make a conjectio that an implied contract for payment existed based on their established pattern of conduct. The 'fact' of an agreement is inferred from their consistent past actions.

• Example 3: Historical Legal Reasoning

  In a historical trial from centuries ago, a judge might have been presented with testimony that a defendant had a strong, publicly known grudge against the victim and was seen leaving the victim's property shortly before the victim's body was discovered. While no witness saw the defendant commit the crime, the judge could form a conjectio that the defendant was responsible, inferring guilt from the combination of motive and proximity to the crime scene. The conclusion of responsibility is drawn from these indirect pieces of evidence.