BURDEN & STANDARD OF PROOF In criminal law, the presumption of innocence is a fundamental safeguard against injustice. An accused person must not be found guilty of an offence unless the prosecution satisfies the jury or, in the absence of a jury, the magistrate or judge, that the accused is guilty beyond reasonable doubt. This […]Continue reading

Grievous Bodily Harm Section 4 of the Crimes Act defines ‘grievous bodily harm’ which includes: the destruction (other than in the course of a medical procedure) of the foetus of a pregnant woman, whether or not the woman suffers any other harm, and any permanent or serious disfiguring of the person, and any grievous bodily […]Continue reading

BATTERY Battery does not constitute a distinct criminal offence but is recognised as a form of assault, characterised by the physical application of unlawful force to another person. Battery involves the actual, intentional, or reckless application of unlawful physical contact, whether violent, offensive, or otherwise non-consensual, upon another person. The physical element of this offence […]Continue reading