Be it in the country of Canada or somewhere else, no one even mistakenly wants to get involved in the charges of assault.
Since it is a blame that nobody would take lightly, understanding the legal frameworks surrounding the assault, and the potential defense available is prominent for anyone facing such accusations.
As per Section 265 of the Canadian Criminal Code, assault involves intentionally making a move to hurt or threaten without the victim’s consent, thus, it makes it a criminal offense in itself.
This paper will help you know the various factors involving hiring an experienced lawyer who can help you defend yourself from the wrong accused of assault if it has happened in Canada.
Under Canadian law, an assault is broadly defined as the intentional application of force to another person without their consent.
It involves various acts, including hitting or pushing, and it even involves threats of violence.
Under different classes, the Criminal Code of Canada distinguishes assault into simple, with a weapon, causing bodily harm, and one with aggravated assault.
The degree of the charge, however, depends on the level of violence applied and the level of injury caused to the victim.
It is always vital to understand precisely what nature of the assault is charged in order to build a correct and effective defense.
One of the first steps in defending the charges of assault is seeking legal representation.
A criminal lawyer Brampton dealing with criminal law can, therefore, take you through the different dimensions of the case and help you build a strong defense.
Since these are cases of assault, which can be really complicated with many probable damages, one would not like to leave the chances of court rulings without being represented in court, which may include imprisonment.
Therefore, legal representation is vital as a lawyer will make sense of charges, negotiate with the prosecution, and represent you in court if need be.
For this reason, the experienced lawyer may have the charges reduced or negotiate a good result on behalf of the defendant.
Self-defense is amongst the common defenses available to the charge of assault in Canada.
The law allows an individual to use reasonable force to protect themselves, others, or property from harm.
The burden of proof requires the accused to succeed in their self-justification by a balance of probabilities at the time.
Such as you need to prove that you were in imminent danger and that the force you applied was necessary at that time in defending yourself, so you are left with no option but to use the force.
However, it is often a good defense, but it requires a great deal of proof.
Under certain circumstances, consent may be an adequate defense to a charge of assault.
It is another form of affirmative defense that is utilized when the victim consented to some sort of act that resulted in injury.
Often in such instances, the act takes place within sports or another field of activities where bodily contact is expected to be part of the event.
As an example, players in a hockey game consent to some amount of physical contact.
However, such consent is not a defense in a case where the injury was given to the victim by using excessive unreasonable force, or where the consent of the victim has been taken under compulsion and fear.
Even in these situations, courts will make a reasonable analysis of the facts and circumstances of the case to determine if the consent is genuine or freely given.
Other common lines of defense include a chip away at evidence the prosecution may have presented.
For instance, in the case of an assault, the burden lies with the prosecution to be able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that a person committed the offense in question.
This is usually through witness statements, physical evidence, and even statements made by the accused themselves.
A good defense attorney is able to consider the evidence for discrepancies and contradictions or any procedural mistakes that could render or diminish the prosecution’s case.
For example, if the police did not follow the procedure in arresting or investigating the crime, that fact alone may suffice to dismiss or reduce the charges.
A close examination of the evidence is quite significant in mounting a good defense.
Do You Know?
69% of wrongful conviction cases happen due to eyewitness misidentification.
Sometimes, the accused might not have any involvement with the incident at all and, instead, has been mistaken for the perpetrator.
Mistaken identity is a type of defense one can use when there is proof that the wrong person was charged.
This may have happened if the assault had taken place in a congested or noisy area; hence, it would have been tricky for the witnesses to identify those involved.
This can lead to an acquittal if the defendant, through their defense, is able to establish that they were not at the scene of the crime, or that someone else committed the assault.
There are instances when it may be in the best interest of the defendant to engage in plea bargain discussions with the prosecution.
A plea bargain is a deal whereby the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser charge; this usually comes with a lighter sentence or the dropping of more serious charges.
Though not as attractive because one does not have the case clearly dismissed, it saves one from going through a long painful trial with more severe sentencing.
A lawyer will then be in a position to negotiate the plea bargain and at all stages ensure that the defendant’s rights are preserved.
To mount any form of assault defense under Canadian law, one needs clear explicit clarity of the legal system, challenging the prosecution case, and presenting well-defined proof.
Self-defense, consent, and challenging evidence-there can be many potential ways in which a favorable outcome can be achieved.
But even in such cases, qualified legal intervention becomes quite necessary to avoid any weakening of the consent.
Application of the right kind of legal approach helps the individual negotiate through the criminal justice system in the best possible way in an assault case.
