module Flashcards
Circumstantial evidence from which an offender’s intent may be inferred can include:
The offender’s actions and words before, during and after the event
The surrounding circumstances
The nature of the act itself
In serious assault cases, additional circumstantial evidence that may assist in proving an offender’s intent may include:
Prior threats Evidence of premeditation The use of a weapon Whether any weapon used was opportunistic or purposely brought The number of blows The degree of force used The body parts targeted by the offender the degree of resistance of helplessness of the victim
Maiming
Maiming will involve mutilating, crippling, or disabling a part of the body so as to deprive the victim of the use of a limb or of one of the senses
Disfigure
To disfigure means to deform or deface; to mar or alter the figure or appearance of a person
Injure
To injure means to cause actual bodily harm
Define sets fire
Although fire damage will often involve burning of charring, it is not necessary that the property is set alight. Melting, blistering of paint or significant smoke damage may be sufficient to prove the offence
Define property
Property includes real and personal property, and any estate of interest in any real or personal property, money electricity, and any debt, and any thing in action, and any other right or interest
Define a Constable pursuant to the Policing Act 2008
Constable means a police employee who
(a) holds the office of constable and
(b) includes a constable who holds any level of position within the New Zealand Police
In R v Tihi it was held that in proving an offence against s 191, the prosecution must satisfy a two-fold test for intent
- The defendant intended to facilitate the commission of an imprisonable offence (or one of the other intents specified in para a, b or c, and
- He or she intended to cause the specified harm or was reckless as to that risk
In order to succeed with a conviction for assault, what elements are you required to prove?
The intention to apply or attempt to apply force to another
The application or attempted application of force, whether directly or indirectly, or
Threaten to apply force in circumstances where the victim believes the offender will be able to carry out the threat
Define pistol
Means any F/A that is designed or adapted to be held and fired with one hand; and includes any F/A that is less than 762mm in length
Define restricted weapon
Means any weapon, whether a F/A or not, declared by the Governor-General, by order in council made under S4 of this act, to be a restricted weapon
Define dishonestly
Dishonestly, in relation to an act or omission, means done or omitted without a belief that there was express or implied consent to, or authority for, the act or omission from a person entitled to give such consent or authority
Define claim of right
Claim of right, in relation to any act, means a belief at the time of the act in a proprietary or possessory right in property in relation to which the offence is alleged to have been committed, although that belief may be based on ignorance or mistake of fact or of any matter of law other than the enactment against which the offence is alleged to have been committed
Define assault
The act of intentionally applying or attempting to apply force to the person of another, directly or indirectly, or threatening by any act or gesture to apply such force to the person of another, if the person making the threat has, or causes the other to believe on reasonable grounds that he or she has the present ability to effect his or her purpose; and to assault has a corresponding meaning