Legal Definitions - per infortunium

Definition: Per infortunium (pronounced puh-r in-for-t(y)oo-nee-uhm) is a Latin term that means "by misadventure." In common law, if one person killed another per infortunium, a conviction and royal pardon were necessary even when there was no fault.

Example: If someone accidentally caused the death of another person while driving, it could be considered per infortunium. Even though there was no intention to harm anyone, the person would still need to seek a pardon from the king to avoid punishment.

Explanation: This example illustrates how per infortunium applies to accidental deaths. Even if there was no intention to harm anyone, the person responsible for the death would still be held accountable and require a pardon to avoid punishment.