Legal Definitions - praebentes causam mortis

Praebentes causam mortis

This historical legal term refers to an individual or individuals whose actions or omissions directly or indirectly initiated the chain of events that resulted in another person's death. It describes someone who occasions the cause of death, meaning they are the primary source or reason for the fatal outcome.

Here are some examples illustrating this concept:

• Example 1: Reckless Construction Practices

  Imagine a construction site supervisor who, despite repeated warnings, orders workers to use faulty scaffolding to save time and money. The scaffolding collapses, leading to the death of a worker. In this scenario, the supervisor would be considered praebentes causam mortis because their deliberate decision to ignore safety protocols directly occasioned the cause of the worker's death.

• Example 2: Supplying a Lethal Substance

  Consider a situation where a person knowingly provides a highly toxic substance to another individual, fully aware of its lethal properties and the recipient's intent to consume it, leading to their death. The person who supplied the substance would be deemed praebentes causam mortis because their action of providing the fatal agent directly occasioned the death.

• Example 3: Negligent Operation of Equipment

  Suppose a train conductor, distracted by a personal device, fails to notice a critical signal and proceeds onto a track where another train is present, resulting in a collision and fatalities. The conductor's severe negligence in operating the train would make them praebentes causam mortis, as their failure to act responsibly directly occasioned the fatal accident.