R v. Cunningham

R v. Cunningham (1957) is a key legal case that clarified the mental state required for criminal liability, particularly in cases of "recklessness." Cunningham involved a man who tore gas meters from a house to steal money, accidentally exposing a neighbor to dangerous fumes. The court held that for a crime of recklessness, the defendant must be aware of the risk and unreasonably take it. It established that recklessness involves knowingly taking an unjustified risk, and this standard applies to certain criminal offenses, helping define when someone is legally responsible for their actions due to their mental state.