ARTICLE
30 September 2023

What is common assault?

CD
Criminal Defence Lawyers Australia
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With decades of experience, Criminal Defence Lawyers Australia® are exclusively amongst the top criminal lawyers in Australia holding an exceptional track record of successfully getting charges dropped early, securing section 10 non convictions, and ‘Not Guilty’ verdicts across all Local, District and Supreme Courts in Australia. As an award-winning criminal lawyers Sydney led team, we’re focused on results by providing a highly personalised service backed with a proven track record of success. Our awards, online reviews and recognition over the years, including TV, radio and newspaper appearances for our expert legal insight in criminal law makes us leading Sydney based criminal lawyers. 8 Convenient Offices Across NSW We have criminal lawyers in 8 offices across NSW, including Sydney CBD, Parramatta, Blacktown, Liverpool, Penrith, Newcastle, Wollongong and Bankstown. Our multiple offices provide our clients and the public seeking legal advice or representation with easier acce
Common assault is an assault where actual bodily harm is not occasioned.
Australia Criminal Law
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A former Finks motorcycle gang member Kahan Umit was brutally beaten and stabbed by two motorcycle gang members.

32-year-old Umit was stabbed and punched during a brutal assault in Dandenong, Melbourne last year in March weeks after having removed himself from the Finks motorcycle gang.

The ex-fink member was approached and confronted by four men, including 48-year-old Lee Martin and 32-year-old Joseph Muratore outside a factory when the assault took place.

Following the attack, Umit was left on his own bleeding on the ground with life threatening injuries, as the perpetrators fled the scene.

Emergency surgery was performed at the Alfred Hospital in order to desperately repair his spine and rib fractures, and a punctured lung from the stabbing.

According to police, Umit had said that he believed he had exited the motorcycle gang on good terms after having left the gang only a few weeks prior.

Despite lawyers for Muratore and Martin telling the County Court of Victoria that the attack was not gang related, Her Honour Judge Elizabeth Gaynor rejected that submission.

Her Honour said, "I feel as if I'm dealing with a pair of immature teenagers.. if he had died, you would have been facing a murder charge...".

Muratore was sentenced to 3 years and four months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to offences of recklessly cause serious injury in addition to weapons and drug offences.

Muratore was arrested last year in May when police found samurai swords in his bedroom, drugs and a sawn-off shotgun following a search of his home.

Martin, who pleaded guilty to common assault and a driving offence was sentenced without an imprisonment term imposed.

WHAT IS A COMMON ASSAULT?

The offence of common assault is outlined under section 61 of the Crime Act 1900 (NSW) carrying up to two years imprisonment.

Common assault is an assault where actual bodily harm is not occasioned.

Further, common assault occurs when a person commits a voluntary and intentional act to the victim, intentionally or recklessly causing either the infliction of unlawful force or an apprehension of immediate and unlawful violence (i.e. threat), without consent and without a lawful excuse (i.e. self-defence).

An actual bodily harm is any injury that interferes with the health and comfort of the victim, which does not have to be permanent, but must be more than merely transient or trifling.

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ARTICLE
30 September 2023

What is common assault?

Australia Criminal Law
Contributor
With decades of experience, Criminal Defence Lawyers Australia® are exclusively amongst the top criminal lawyers in Australia holding an exceptional track record of successfully getting charges dropped early, securing section 10 non convictions, and ‘Not Guilty’ verdicts across all Local, District and Supreme Courts in Australia. As an award-winning criminal lawyers Sydney led team, we’re focused on results by providing a highly personalised service backed with a proven track record of success. Our awards, online reviews and recognition over the years, including TV, radio and newspaper appearances for our expert legal insight in criminal law makes us leading Sydney based criminal lawyers. 8 Convenient Offices Across NSW We have criminal lawyers in 8 offices across NSW, including Sydney CBD, Parramatta, Blacktown, Liverpool, Penrith, Newcastle, Wollongong and Bankstown. Our multiple offices provide our clients and the public seeking legal advice or representation with easier acce
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