What must the court prove to establish that a crime was committed?

To establish that a crime was committed, the court must prove that every element of the crime has been met and that the suspect is responsible for committing it. This is foundational in criminal law, as each crime consists of specific elements that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This can include aspects such as the actus reus (the physical act of the crime), mens rea (the mental intent), and any other statutory elements.

For example, in a theft case, the prosecution must show that the accused took someone else's property, intended to permanently deprive the owner of it, and did so without permission. Each element must be addressed to affirm that the crime occurred. As such, the completeness of proof regarding every aspect of the crime is critical for a conviction.

The other options do not capture the comprehensive requirements necessary for establishing that a crime occurred. Focusing solely on intent does not encompass all elements needed for conviction, and while witnesses or evidence of harm can support a case, they are not sufficient alone to prove that a crime was committed without confirming all elements of the crime itself.