The Form of Intention Known as Dolus Eventualis in Criminal Law

Abstract

It is a firmly established principle of criminal justice that there can be no liability without fault. The element of fault as a requirement for liability rests upon the moral and ethical view that only persons who are deserving of blame ought to be punished. Fault consists in either intention (dolus) or negligence (culpa). Intention consists in deliberate criminal conduct while negligence consists in accidental criminal conduct. There are three forms of intention and two forms of negligence. The aim of this paper is to discuss one of these three forms of intention known as dolus eventualis.