Actus Reus Case Study

It is clear from the facts it is a case of non-fatal offences against the person. They include assault, battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm which is sometimes abbreviated as ABH, maliciously wounds or inflicts grievous bodily harm and the last one wounding or causing grievous bodily harm.
We will start examining the most serious offences which are committed by Cyril then moving to the least serious offences which are committed by Moby. It is noted that for there to have liability both the elements of actus Reus and mens rea should be present while committing the offences.
From the facts of the case, we noted that Cyril threatened to hit Moby and even waved his fist in the air at him. From this point of view Cyril can be liable for assault. Assault is defined as a situation where one person creates fear of harm to another person . For assault to take place there is no need to apply force or make any physical contact with the person. The actus Reus here for assault is that there must be an act and that particular act caused the victim to apprehend the infliction of immediate unlawful force applying the principle set in the case of Fagan v Metropolitan Police Commissioner (1968) . Words spoken are sufficient to be qualified as an assault. This principle is set out in the case of R v Ireland; Burstow . In our case the spoken words of Cyril and the act of raising his fit in the direction of Moby have undoubtedly created fear. It must be noted that it is sufficient that Moby thought that the physical violence was immediate, here applying the case of Smith v Chief Superintendent of Working Police Station .
As mentioned above both the elements actus reus and mens rea should be present for an offence, we now come the mens...

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Another offence under which Moby might be convicted is s47 for he stuck Cyril on head causing him to pass out for a few minutes. Applying the case of T v DPP a momentary loss of consciousness is sufficient for s47. This is defined as occasioning actual bodily harm also referred as ABH. There are three elements for actus reus. There must be as assault or battery. We have already established that Moby might be convicted for battery.
Another element is occasioning. Under this element we have to prove that the battery caused the actual bodily harm. Establishing the but-for test , Cyril would not have lost his spectacles and blow out if Moby did not stick him. The bruises caused by the yin can be charged under s47 .
The mens rea required here is that of battery . As we have already establish the mens rea it is most probably that Moby might be convicted under s47