Proof of the Actus Reus of Crimes Based on Expert Opinion

The burden of proving the three elements constituting the crime, including the legal, actus reus and mens rea elements, along with the lack of barriers to the commission of the crime, is a matter for the prosecutor according to the relevant regulations and the general rule prescribing the burden of proof lies on the claimant. This includes proving criminal behavior such as its act or omission nature, attribution of the criminal act to the perpetrator, general and specific ill-will and knowledge and intention in deliberate crimes and criminal culpability in unintentional crimes, which actus reus can be substantiated by referring the matter to the expert. Although the Islamic Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure do not order the judge's adherence to expert opinion and such opinion is recognized only as one of the scientific evidences for the judge, the judicial procedure approach to referring the case to experts to investigate the effects and consequences of the crime, whether electronic or medical, such as texting, fingerprints, semen, blood stains, saliva, etc., as well as examining the statements of witnesses, informants, plaintiffs and defendants, indicate the courts' attention and perhaps de facto adherence to scientific evidence (expert opinion) to substantiate the material element (actus reus) of the crime.