Law Criminal Courts
Jonas has been attacked by someone and has been harmed. Explain what offences might have been committed upon him.
Jonas was not murdered therefore his attacker has committed a non fatal offence which is dealt with in either the magistrates court or the crown court depending on the severity of the crime. Jonas 's attacker could be charged with a number of non fatal offences ranging from the lowest non fatal offences which are common assault and battery under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, to the higher offences assault causing actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm under the Offence Against the Person Act (1861). In order for the attacker to be charged within the criminal courts, the prosecution must prove the crime is 'beyond reasonable doubt ' (Charman, 2010: 211). The jury must be certain the accused is responsible for the crime. If the attacker is guilty he will be sentenced by the judge, in order for the judge to rule a guilty verdict the crime must consist of two elements; the mens rea and the actus reus. The attacker must be found guilty of both in order to be sentenced. Jonas 's attacker could be charged with the following non fatal offences.
The attacker could be charged with common assault under the s39 of the Criminal Justice Act (1988), being a summary crime he would be trailed in the magistrates court. If found guilty he would receive a maximum of six months imprisonment and/or fine. For the attacker to be found guilty of the actus reus of assault 'the defendant must intentionally or subjectively cause another person to fear immediate unlawful personal violence ' (Martin 2010:167). There are two elements to the actus reus of assault, the acts, words or both. Jonas does not have to be psychically harmed by the attacker in order for his attacker to be found guilty, the victim must 'fear immediate violence '(Currer, 2008:180). An example of where there has been no physical harm to the victim, however the act alone was enough to
Jonas was not murdered therefore his attacker has committed a non fatal offence which is dealt with in either the magistrates court or the crown court depending on the severity of the crime. Jonas 's attacker could be charged with a number of non fatal offences ranging from the lowest non fatal offences which are common assault and battery under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, to the higher offences assault causing actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm under the Offence Against the Person Act (1861). In order for the attacker to be charged within the criminal courts, the prosecution must prove the crime is 'beyond reasonable doubt ' (Charman, 2010: 211). The jury must be certain the accused is responsible for the crime. If the attacker is guilty he will be sentenced by the judge, in order for the judge to rule a guilty verdict the crime must consist of two elements; the mens rea and the actus reus. The attacker must be found guilty of both in order to be sentenced. Jonas 's attacker could be charged with the following non fatal offences.
The attacker could be charged with common assault under the s39 of the Criminal Justice Act (1988), being a summary crime he would be trailed in the magistrates court. If found guilty he would receive a maximum of six months imprisonment and/or fine. For the attacker to be found guilty of the actus reus of assault 'the defendant must intentionally or subjectively cause another person to fear immediate unlawful personal violence ' (Martin 2010:167). There are two elements to the actus reus of assault, the acts, words or both. Jonas does not have to be psychically harmed by the attacker in order for his attacker to be found guilty, the victim must 'fear immediate violence '(Currer, 2008:180). An example of where there has been no physical harm to the victim, however the act alone was enough to
References: to the defendant foreseeing that such harm was likely to result or that he had been reckless as to whether such harm would result, would be uinsuffiecent” (Currer:2008:185). Section 18 has the maximum sentencing of life imprisonment, therefore it is extremely important that Jonas attacker most certainly intended to cause Jonas grievous bodily harm. It has been shown, therefore that Jonas attacker, depending on the extent of his crime could face imprisonment from six months up to life, under the Offence Against the Persons Act (1861).The Act is 152 years old, the non Fatal offences contained within it use archaic language and words of which modern understanding of them has changed since it was passed, such as assault and battery. The structure of the offences can also be criticised. There is no statutory definition of assault or battery and there are no clear boundaries between the offences which Jonas attacker could have committed. Similarly there is no clear boundary between ABH and GBH it is for the jury to decide what amounts to really serious harm and different juries will differ in their opinions. Non-fatal offences is an area of the law that has attracted much criticism and it is unanimously accepted that it is in need of reform. This could avoid absurd decisions within the courtroom, endless appeals and unjustified sentencing. In order for both Jonas and his attacker to have a fair trail, changes are necessary. Bibliography Currer J, et all, AQA Law, London, Nelson Thornes Ltd, 2008 Elliot, C & Quinn, F, English Legal system, London, Pearson education limited, 2005 Martin, J, AQA Law, Abington, Hodder Education, 2010 Molan, M Cases & Materials on Criminal Law, 3rd Ed, Cavendish Publishing, 2005