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Case Study: No conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm

Last week Mikaela completed a matter where our client was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and faced an Apprehended Violence Order. Assault occasioning actual bodily harm is...

Janelle Tarabay

Last week Mikaela completed a matter where our client was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and faced an Apprehended Violence Order.

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm is a serious offence which carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment. Anyone who assaults a person and causes visible harm to them can be charged with this offence and the harm can span from bruises and scratches to even knife wounds.

A conviction for this offence would have had significant consequences on our client’s career

Despite 18% of people charged with this offence going to gaol, and 45% receiving a conviction and good behaviour bond, Mikaela’s client received no criminal conviction on the promise he be of good behaviour for 18 months. Our client received an extraordinary result, which was largely due to two key things:

Amending the facts

First, Mikaela listened to her client’s version of events carefully. She noticed that what her client told her was quite different to what the police recorded in the fact sheet. Accordingly, Mikaela wrote to the police indicating where the facts should be amended to better reflect her client’s version of events.

This isn’t easily done and involves persuading the police that amending the facts is appropriate in the circumstances, and will expedite the resolution of the matter. All the while also ensuring punishment for the accused and protection for the victim. Having the facts amended meant that the seriousness of what Mikaela’s client was charged with more accurately reflected what actually occurred and reduced the seriousness of the offence.

Smart Submissions:

Second, Mikaela in her submissions to the Magistrate focused on the objective seriousness of the offence and highlighted how her client’s actions were of the lowest end of seriousness in relation to the offences. Mikaela focused on the degree of violence, the extent of the injury and her client’s intention when pushing the victim.

Mikaela then supported this with evidence that her client, regardless of the seriousness, was taking the offending extremely seriously and was engaging in ongoing counselling.

By ordering her submissions that way, Mikaela was able to highlight to the Magistrate how not only was this offence of the lowest level and how her client had immediately realised how wrong their actions were and already taken steps to change their behaviour. This allowed the Magistrate to proceed without conviction, as the circumstances indicated that the promise of good behaviour would provide adequate punishment for the client. Mikaela also indicated that her client had agreed to a final Apprehended Violence Order, which she submitted was adequate protection for the victim.

The Outcome:

The result being that all parties received adequate outcomes. The victim was protected by an apprehended violence order, which, if breached is a serious criminal offence. The Community was protected through the good behaviour bond. Finally, Mikaela’s client walked away without a criminal conviction but also with an understanding of why they offended. He is engaging in ongoing steps to ensure he does not re-offend.