Common assault

1
Common assault

• A person is guilty of assault if he
  intentionally or recklessly causes another person
  to fear the application to his body of immediate,
  unlawful force.
• Actus reus
• Fear
• Importance of the victims state of mind. R. v
  Constanza (1997) IrelandBurstow (1998)
• Words alone. IrelandBurstow (1998)
• Silence. IrelandBurstow (1998)
• Immediate
• Logdon v DPP (1976) Smith v Chief Super. Woking
  (1983) Ireland Burstow (1998) Turberville v
  Savage (1699)
• Mens rea
• Intentionally or recklessly causes
• R. v Woolin (1998) R. v Cunningham (1957)
• No need to show intent to injure or a hostile
  mind.

2
Battery

• A person is guilty of battery if he
  intentionally or recklessly applies unlawful
  force to the body of another person.
• Actus reus
• Force- strength, energy or violence as an
  attribute of physical action or movement (Swales
  v Cox (1981)) physical contact
  (IrelandBurstow (1998)) slightest degree of
  force, even touching (Cole v Turner (1704))
• Force can be applied indirectly (DPP v K (1990)
  Fagan v MPC (1969))
• Must be unlawful force.
• Mens rea
• Intentionally or recklessly applies
• R. v Woolin (1998) R. v Cunningham (1957)
• No need to show intent to injure or a hostile
  mind.