One evening, three farmers witnessed Randy hanging around Farmer Fred's barn with an unlit torch, wearing an awfully nefarious expression. The barn burned to the ground later that evening. Randy is charged with the crime of arson. The burden of proof required for a conviction in a criminal case is:

Proof beyond a reasonable doubt

Explanation:

Proof beyond a reasonable doubt simply implies the provision of a proof that can be considered to be close to the real happening. Once a jury or judge is certain that Randy burned down the barn based on evidence, then it is enough to give a verdict. This provides the jury and judge the satisfaction beyond reasonable doubt that Randy burned down the barn.