

     § 303.  Causal relationship between conduct and result.
        (a)  General rule.--Conduct is the cause of a result when:
            (1)  it is an antecedent but for which the result in
        question would not have occurred; and
            (2)  the relationship between the conduct and result
        satisfies any additional causal requirements imposed by this
        title or by the law defining the offense.
        (b)  Divergence between result designed or contemplated and
     actual result.--When intentionally or knowingly causing a
     particular result is an element of an offense, the element is
     not established if the actual result is not within the intent or
     the contemplation of the actor unless:
            (1)  the actual result differs from that designed or
        contemplated as the case may be, only in the respect that a
        different person or different property is injured or affected
        or that the injury or harm designed or contemplated would
        have been more serious or more extensive than that caused; or
            (2)  the actual result involves the same kind of injury
        or harm as that designed or contemplated and is not too
        remote or accidental in its occurrence to have a bearing on
        the actor's liability or on the gravity of his offense.
        (c)  Divergence between probable and actual result.--When
     recklessly or negligently causing a particular result is an
     element of an offense, the element is not established if the
     actual result is not within the risk of which the actor is aware
     or, in the case of negligence, of which he should be aware
     unless:
            (1)  the actual result differs from the probable result
        only in the respect that a different person or different
        property is injured or affected or that the probable injury
        or harm would have been more serious or more extensive than
        that caused; or
            (2)  the actual result involves the same kind of injury
        or harm as the probable result and is not too remote or
        accidental in its occurrence to have a bearing on the
        liability of the actor or on the gravity of his offense.
        (d)  Absolute liability.--When causing a particular result is
     a material element of an offense for which absolute liability is
     imposed by law, the element is not established unless the actual
     result is a probable consequence of the conduct of the actor.

        Cross References.  Section 303 is referred to in section 2607
     of this title.

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Last modified: November 27, 2007