Aberratio ictus – this legal term comes from Latin. Literally it means “accidental harm”. In the modern practice, it applies:
1) in the area of Tort Law. There it refers to the accidental wrongful action, done by a person that harmed another person.
2) Within the Criminal Law, where details a mistake in the act subject by the perpetrator, who harmed another, innocent person but not directly their targeted victim. For example, a killer tried to kill John, but actually killed by mistake Susan. Because these three parties are involved in the criminal act, therefore it is known as “complex crime”.