Module 17 - ASSAULT Flashcards
Relevant concepts include:
- Recklessness
- Criminal liability
- Temporal coincidence
- Mens rea and actus reus
- Legal defences to assault
Case law defines assault as?
Any act committed either intentionally or recklessly that threatens another person with immediate and unlawful violence. It is not necessary for actual physical harm to be inflicted.
Assault can include what?
- Advance towards someone with a clenched fist (threats)
- Using a dog as a weapon
- Non-consenting kiss
- Spitting on a person
- Striking a horse causing the rider to fall
- Pointing an unloaded/loaded firearm or toy pistol (if the victim believes it to be a pistol/taser)
- An unlawful arrest
- Excessive force
What Act and Section is ‘Common Assault prosecuted by indictment’ and the elements. What type of offence is this and how many years in prison?
Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Section 61
- The accused
- Assaulted
o Intentionally/recklessly
o Without consent
o Without lawful excuse
- A person
Indictable offence – 2 years imprisonment
What Act and Section is ‘Assault and other actions against police officers’
Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Section 60
What Act and Section is ‘Assault occasioning actual bodily harm’ and the elements and how long in prison?
Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Section 59
- The accused
- Assaulted
o Intentionally/recklessly
o Without consent
o Without lawful excuse
- A person
- Occasioning actual bodily harm
Liable to imprisonment for 5 years
What is the definition of Actual Bodily Harm?
Includes any hurt or injury to interfere with health or comfort of the victim
Such hurt need not be permanent but must be more than merely transient and trifling, for example, scratches and bruises
What Act and Section is ‘Reckless grievous bodily harm or wounding’
Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Section 35
What Act and Section is ‘Wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent’
Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Section 33
What is the definition of Wound?
Wounding requires the breaking of the continuity of the skin – dermis (interior layer) and epidermis (outer layer)
It need not involve the use of a weapon
What Act and Section is ‘Choking, Suffocation and Strangulation’
Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Section 37
What are some legal defences for assault?
- Self Defence
- Accidental use of force
- When consented to
- Medical procedures
What Act and Section is Violent Disorder? And the elements? And Maximum Penalty?
Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW), Section 11A
- Was 3 or more persons are together using or threatening unlawful violence
- The conduct of them (Taken together) was such that it would have caused a person of reasonable firmness at the scene to fear for his/her safety (need not be present)
- Each of the persons who threatens or uses unlawful violence is guilty of this offence
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty points or 6 months imprisonment
What Act and Section is Affray? And the elements? And Maximum Penalty?
Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), Section 93C
- The accused used or threatened to use unlawful violence towards another person
- The conduct of the accused was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his or her personal safety (need not be present)
10 years imprisonment
What Act and Section is Riot? And the elements? And Maximum Penalty?
Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Section 93B
- 12 or more persons were present together
- Used or threatened to use unlawful violence for a common purpose
- Their conduct taken together was such that it would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene for fear for his or her safety (need not be present)
15 years imprisonment