Legal Definitions - presumption of natural and probable consequences

The presumption of natural and probable consequences is a legal principle, primarily used in criminal law, that allows a court or jury to infer a person's mental state or intent (often referred to as "mens rea" or a "guilty mind") based on their actions. It operates on the assumption that individuals generally intend the foreseeable and likely outcomes that naturally result from their conduct. In simpler terms, if an action would predictably lead to a certain result, the law may presume that the person who performed that action intended that result, even if they don't explicitly state their intent.

Here are some examples illustrating this principle:

• Example 1: Assault and Battery

  Imagine a person, Alex, gets into an argument with another person, Ben. In a fit of anger, Alex intentionally shoves Ben forcefully, causing Ben to fall backward and hit his head on a concrete curb, resulting in a severe concussion. Even if Alex claims they only meant to push Ben and didn't intend for him to suffer such a serious injury, the law might apply the presumption of natural and probable consequences. A severe fall and injury are natural and probable outcomes of a forceful shove, especially near a hard surface. Therefore, a court could infer that Alex intended to cause at least some level of harm, or acted with such disregard that intent to cause serious injury could be presumed.

• Example 2: Arson

  Consider a situation where Clara, seeking revenge, pours gasoline on the exterior wall of an abandoned building and lights it with a match. The fire quickly spreads and engulfs the entire structure, causing extensive damage. Clara might later argue that she only intended to "scare" the building's owner or cause minor damage, not to destroy the entire property. However, setting fire to a flammable substance on a building makes the complete destruction of that building a natural and probable consequence. Under this presumption, a court could infer that Clara intended to cause the significant damage that resulted from her actions, regardless of her stated lesser intent.

• Example 3: Reckless Endangerment Leading to Harm

  Suppose David, while driving his car at an extremely high speed through a residential neighborhood, loses control and crashes into a parked car, which then careens into a nearby pedestrian, causing serious injuries. David might claim he didn't intend to hit anyone or cause injury, only to "have fun" speeding. However, driving at excessive speeds in a populated area makes a collision and potential injury to others a natural and probable consequence of that conduct. The law could use this presumption to infer that David, by choosing to drive so recklessly, either intended to cause harm or acted with such extreme disregard for safety that his mental state is equivalent to intending the foreseeable harmful outcomes.