 Animus nocendi

In jurisprudence, animus nocendi (Latin "animus", "mind" + genitive gerund of "noceo", "to harm") is the subjective state of mind of the author of a crime, with reference to the exact knowledge of illegal content of his behaviour, and of its possible consequences.In most modern legal systems, the "animus nocendi" is required as an essential condition to give a penal condemnation.