Legal Definitions - Motive

In a legal context, motive refers to the underlying reason or impulse that drives an individual to commit a criminal act. It explains the 'why' behind a crime, shedding light on the desire, emotion, or goal that induced the accused's actions.

While motive can be a powerful piece of evidence that helps explain a defendant's actions and can be crucial in building a case, it is important to understand that motive itself is not an element of most crimes. This means prosecutors generally do not need to prove a motive to secure a conviction. Furthermore, the presence of a strong motive alone is never sufficient to prove guilt; it must be supported by other evidence linking the accused to the crime.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of motive:

• Financial Gain: A person is struggling with significant debt and stands to inherit a large sum of money upon the death of a wealthy relative. If that relative is subsequently found murdered, the individual's dire financial situation could be presented as a motive for the crime.

  Explanation: The desire for financial relief or enrichment provides the 'why' behind the potential criminal act. It suggests a reason for the individual to commit murder, even though it doesn't prove they actually did it.

• Revenge or Retaliation: After a contentious divorce and a bitter child custody battle, one parent repeatedly threatens the other, expressing intense anger and a desire to "make them pay." If the threatened parent's car is later vandalized or their home burglarized, the history of animosity and threats could be introduced as a motive.

  Explanation: The strong negative emotions and desire for revenge serve as the motive. This impulse explains why one individual might target the other, providing a reason for the alleged criminal acts.

• Concealment of Another Crime: An accountant discovers that a client has been embezzling funds from their company for years. Before the accountant can report the findings, their office is broken into, and the specific financial records detailing the embezzlement are stolen. The client's desire to prevent their fraudulent activities from being exposed could be presented as a motive for the break-in and theft.

  Explanation: The motive here is to avoid detection and legal consequences for a prior criminal act (embezzlement). The impulse to conceal wrongdoing explains the subsequent criminal action of theft.