According to the corpus delicti rule, a confession must be corroborated with what?

The corpus delicti rule is a legal principle stating that a confession cannot serve as the sole basis for a conviction unless it is supported by independent evidence that confirms the occurrence of a crime. This independent evidence must verify that a crime has indeed been committed, separate from the confession itself. It serves to prevent wrongful convictions based solely on an individual's admission of guilt without sufficient corroborating proof of the crime’s occurrence.

Independent evidence can take various forms, such as physical evidence, witness testimony, or any documentation that can substantiate the elements of the crime. This requirement ensures that there is a foundational basis for the confession, thus upholding the integrity of the legal process and protecting individuals from being convicted on potentially false confessions alone.

Other forms of corroboration, like eyewitness testimony or photographic evidence, while potentially useful, are not the specific requirement outlined by the corpus delicti rule itself. These types of evidence may contribute to building a case but do not strictly meet the rule's criteria of independent corroboration. Expert opinion, while relevant in certain contexts, does not fulfill the fundamental requirement of establishing that a crime has occurred independently from the confession.