Murder is best described as which category of offense?

• A. Mala prohibita
• B. Corpus delicti
• C. Mala in se
• D. Mens rea

Answer: (C)

Acts that are inherently wrong by their nature are described as mala in se, and murder is a classic example because ending a human life is universally condemned as morally wrong, not just illegal due to a statute. Corpus delicti refers to the facts proving a crime occurred, not to how crimes are categorized. Mens rea means the mental state or intent behind the act, which is an element of many crimes but does not describe the type of offense itself. Mala prohibita covers offenses that are illegal only because a law says so, like certain regulatory violations. Therefore, murder is mala in se because it is wrong in itself.