What must the Crown prove in a criminal case?

In a criminal case, the burden of proof lies with the Crown (prosecution), and the standard they must meet is to establish each element of the case beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that the prosecution has to provide sufficient evidence for everyone involved in the case to be convinced that there is no reasonable doubt regarding the defendant's guilt.

The rationale behind this high standard is to protect the rights of the individual being accused and to uphold a fundamental principle of justice: it is better for a guilty person to go free than for an innocent person to be wrongly convicted. Each element of the offense must be addressed and proved by the Crown, demonstrating the specifics of the crime as defined by law, such as intent, action, and the context of the crime.

The other options do not accurately reflect the legal standard required in a criminal case. For example, a preponderance of evidence is the standard used in civil cases, which requires that the evidence show that something is more likely true than not. A single element beyond a reasonable doubt does not reflect the full responsibility of the Crown; the prosecution must prove all elements of the crime. Finally, simply proving that a crime occurred without connecting it to the defendant fails to meet the necessary criteria for a conviction.