Assualt Ocasioning Actual Bodily Harm

[Flash Card 1 of 2]

• Section 47 / least serious offence in Offences Against the Person Act 1861
• Most convictions / either way offence / maximum 5yr prison

Actus reus ABH (s47):

Assault:

• initial stage / either assault or battery

Occasioning:

• causation element

Actual bodily harm:

• .. calculated to interfere with the health or comfort of the V... (Miller)
• Harm means injury / actual means injury not be wholly insignificant / bodily not limited to skin, flesh & bones / also organs, brain & nervous system (Chan-Fook)
• psychiatric injury if identifiable medical condition (Chan-Fook)
• D cut off ex girlfriend's ponytail (Smith)
• D chased & kicked / V briefly unconscious / guilty ABH (T v DPP)
• 15 yr old boy / guilty ABH / not present at time injury caused (DPP v K)

bits of law

Assualt Ocasioning Actual Bodily Harm

[Flash Card 2 of 2]

Mens rea ABH (s47):

• Intention or recklessness / as assault or battery / no separate mens rea (Roberts)
• D threw beer at V intentionally / glass left hand too / sufficient mens rea for battery / result more serious / both factually & legally / sufficient mens rea (Savage)

bits of law