NEWS

Grievous Bodily Harm Lawyers

Grievous Bodily Harm is regarded as a serious offence in NSW, and the Crimes Act defines grievous bodily harm as: “any permanent or serious disfiguring of the person, the destruction of a foetus and any grievous bodily disease.” Grievous Bodily Harm doesn’t have to be life threatening to an individual but none the less is still deemed as a serious crime.

Grievous Bodily Harm is the most serious form of assault and is more serious than Actual Bodily Harm.

When looking at Grievous Bodily Harm Offences, there are various degrees of Grievous Bodily harm, which the courts in NSW deem to be quite serious. The following Grievous Bodily Harm Offences are as follows:

Reckless Grievous Bodily Harm

In accordance to Section 35 of the Crimes Act 1900, a person who causes grievous bodily harm to another person and does so in a reckless manner is guilty of a criminal offence. Differing from assault occasioning actual bodily harm, the offence of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm typically results in more serious injuries and potentially permanent damage to another individual. Causing actual bodily harm to that or any other person, is guilty of an offence in which the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 10 years.

Intent to Cause Grievous Bodily Harm

If you have hurt or wounded a person intentionally, then this is type of Grievous Bodily Harm Offence is one of the most serious forms Grievous Bodily Harm. It is also one of the most difficult charges to prosecute, as the courts have, to prove that the Offender Intended To Cause Grievous Bodily Harm. However, should the prosecution be successful in proving Intent to cause Grievous Bodily Harm, the maximum penalties of up to 25 years may be imposed.

Aggravated Dangerous Driving Occasioning Grievous Bodily Harm

Aggravated Dangerous Driving Occasioning Grievous Bodily Harm refers to a person who has committed an offence of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm in circumstances of aggravation. This could include type of dangerous driving where innocent peoples’ lives are put at risk, with the offenders’ disregard for the community. It is still quite a serious form of Grievous Bodily Harm and should a person be convicted of an Aggravated Dangerous Driving Occasioning Grievous Bodily Harm Offence, then they could receive a prison sentence of up to 11 years.

Negligent Driving Occasioning Grievous Bodily Harm

This offence of Negligent Driving Occasioning Grievous Bodily Harm is one of the lesser charges associated with Grievous Bodily Harm, however it is also treated quite seriously and offenders who have been charged with negligent driving which has resulted in Grievous Bodily Harm will be liable to 20 penalty units, equating to a $2,200 fine and/ or imprisonment for 9 months If it is a first-time offence. Alternatively, if the offence has been committed subsequently, the offender will be liable to harsher punishment. In this instance, the maximum punishment imposed by the Court is 30 penalty points, equating to a $3,300 fine, or imprisonment for 12 months or a combination of the both.

Click here to learn more about Grievous Bodily Harm Penalties, or Grievous Bodily Harm Strategies.

What happens if you have been charged with a Grievous Bodily Harm Crime?

As Grievous Bodily Harm Offences are regarded as quite serious charges by the courts, and if you have been charged with a Grievous Bodily Harm Charge and you require Grievous Bodily Harm Legal Services, then please don’t hesitate to contact our office for advice immediately.

Benjamin Leonardo are Grievous Bodily Harm Lawyers, and have offices in Sydney and Parramatta and are conveniently located near the district courts. They understand the strain Grievous Bodily Harm Cases have on their clients and families alike, and provide sympathetic and non-judgemental advice and support to their clients. Having defended more than 3,800 cases and with a success rate of over 90%, Benjamin Leonardo provide Grievous Bodily Harm Legal Services in Sydney & Parramatta, and provide their clients with informed legal advice and flexible payment terms. If you have been charged with a Grievous Bodily Harm Offence, please contact Benjamin Leonardo on (02) 9283 3033, for your first Consultation.