Assault Lawyers
Our family found itself in a situation that could best be described as a nightmare. Our seventeen year old son met a young woman and invited her to stay the night. The next day, she went to the Police and alleged sexual assault (we later learned she had done this before). From the moment we met with Ruth, we felt at ease with her professional and pragmatic approach to the case. At no stage did we ever feel alone or unsupported. She was right there with us at every step. We would not have gotten through this extremely challenging time if it was not for Ruth.
January 2023
Specialist Assault Lawyers in Melbourne
When facing charges of assault, finding lawyers in Melbourne equipped to take up the cause of your defence is a time-sensitive and crucial task. However, it can prove challenging even to find the mental space to do so with everything else affecting you or your loved one. At Galbally Parker, our team of expert assault lawyers can provide you with easier access to the resources you need during this challenging time. We can represent you for a range of assault charges including aggravated assault, physical assault, common assault and domestic assault.
Galbally Parker Criminal Lawyers has a robust practice within Melbourne and across Victoria in the areas of assault and violent crime. It is a cornerstone of our practice.
The Importance of Finding the Right Assault Lawyer
Why should you avoid any delays in securing legal representation for your case? The sooner you find an appropriate assault lawyer, the sooner you can:
- Begin to gather the facts and formulate your defence.
- Obtain access to the representation you require for court proceedings, and trust that your chosen team will allow you to put your best foot forward during any trial.
- Receive the support necessary to feel as though you have solid ground beneath your feet again. For those arrested and charged, and family members alike, the entire process of contesting charges can feel frightening and extremely confusing. The right lawyer can help to explain the situation, what’s going on, and what will happen next. While it isn’t an immediate cure to your concern, it can help to inspire confidence in the day-to-day.
What You Should Know About Using an Assault Lawyer
Most people have never needed to work with an assault lawyer, and understandably have questions about the process. Keep the following things in mind as you move forward:
- Be honest and upfront about the facts of your case. What you say to your lawyer is taken in confidence thanks to the client legal privilege that exists. The more we understand about your case and the events that led to the current situation, the better we can help formulate your defence.
- A lawyer can help simplify the process but cannot make the proceedings move faster. Many individuals find themselves feeling frustrated and discouraged by the time some cases can take to move forward. We will do our best to ensure that you always know what to expect in this regard.
Look to partner with a team that has proven its ability to be successful in court. At Galbally Parker, we have a splendid track record of successes both for clients in more minor matters alongside very high profile cases, such as our recent victory in the appeals process for Faruk Orman.
Our Areas of Assault Law Expertise
Our firm possesses a deep understanding of the complexities of assault law. We specialise in offering tailored legal solutions to navigate the diverse landscapes of assault cases. With a dedicated team of experienced lawyers, we cover a broad spectrum of assault-related matters, providing comprehensive representation to our clients. Our experienced team of assault lawyers ensure thorough and effective legal advocacy in every case, delivering personalised strategies to deliver the best possible outcome for our clients.
Speak with an experienced assault lawyer
Aggravated Assault is a term used by the Police to describe when an assault takes place in ‘aggravated’ circumstances such as when another person is present, or when kicking or a weapon is used. At Galbally Parker, we have a team of experienced aggravated assault lawyers who can assist you in defending this charge.
A physical assault occurs when a person uses physical violence and causes injury to another person’s body. If you have been involved in, or accused of a physical assault, speaking to a lawyer is the first step. At Galbally Parker, our qualified physical assault lawyers understand the different types of assault charges and will work with you to represent you in this matter and support you to achieve the best outcome throughout this stressful and difficult process.
Common Assault is a summary offence, often referred to as an ‘unlawful assault’ in Victoria Being found guilty of this charge can result in a fine or imprisonment. Our common assault lawyers appear are experiences in defending assault charges with an exceptional track record.
Allegations of assault that occur between spouses, intimate partners, and former partners are considered domestic assault. Domestic assault charges are treated very seriously by the police and the Courts in Australia. If you are suspected of assault, have been brought in for questioning by the police, or have been charged with domestic assault offences, our team of domestic assault lawyers will ensure you get the expert advice you need.
Why Galbally Parker is a Cost-Effective Assault Law Firm
With a clear understanding of how to illuminate the path ahead for you, partnering with Galbally Parker can allow you to avoid wasted time that one could instead spend preparing for the next steps. Discover the options you have together with a team of assault lawyers you can trust and avoid the need to spend time going from firm to firm looking for the experience you want. Contact us today for a consultation regarding the facts of your situation
What is the Law Around Assault Offences?
Assault charges can range from lower level common law and unlawful assaults, to charges of intentionally causing serious injury and attempted murder. Accordingly, you need a criminal assault lawyer to give you the best possible advice.
It is our job as criminal defence lawyers to assess the evidence, consider issues of identity, to explore the available defences, and provide competent legal advice to those charged with assault and other related offences. Assault matters often intersect with scientific disciplines and, therefore, an in-depth understanding of forensic procedures and access to the very best experts available is imperative to a successful defence.
In today’s social climate, assaults are vigorously investigated and prosecuted zealously. The penalties for ‘single punch’ assaults that result in serious injury and, in some cases, death carry with them increasingly severe sentences, the inevitable sentence being a term of imprisonment. If you are charged or under investigation for a death arising from a single punch, refer to our Homicide section for further information.
The Victorian Parliament has also introduced mandatory baseline sentences for certain offences and special provisions for those who assault emergency workers. There is also an intersection between assault offences which occur in a domestic setting and the intervention order and family violence jurisdictions. The criminal law jurisdiction is expecting the introduction of new laws specific to such offences, given the community outrage at recent high profile domestic deaths. If you are charged with domestic assault offences and are facing intervention order proceedings, please also refer to our intervention orders page also for more information.
There is a cascading scale of assaults, from the most serious to the least:
Attempted murder
In order for an accused person to be convicted of attempted murder, they must have intended to commit a murder and attempted to do so. It is important that the Prosecution proves that they intended to commit murder and not some other offence. An act of attempted murder must be more than merely preparatory to the commission of the offence, and must be immediately and not remotely connected with the commission of the offence: Crimes Act 1958, s321N(1). Often an attempt is described as the beginning of the commission of the offence: R v De Silva [2007] QCA 301.
Most usually, accused persons are charged with this offence, as well as alternative assault offences, in circumstances where they intended to murder the victim, but the victim survived their injuries. The usual sentence of imprisonment for attempted murder ranges in the number of years, but the Sentencing Statistics available show that the average total effective sentence is usually between 10 and 12 years, with a non-parole period of around 8 years: Statistics Snapshot, Sentencing Advisory Council.
Provisions:
S321M Crimes Act 1958
S321N(1), Crimes Act 1958
Intentionally cause serious injury (with a related offence involving gross violence)
A serious injury is an injury which endangers life, is substantial and protracted and/or which causes the destruction of a fetus (other than during a medical procedure). These offences are heard in the County Court of Victoria and have a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. In order for a serious injury to be caused intentionally, the High Court of Australia has found that the accused must have a general intent to commit the act involved in the offence, or specific intent to produce the serious injury: He Kaw Teh [1985].
The offence is aggravated if committed in circumstances of gross violence. Whilst the offence has the same maximum sentence as the base offence without gross violence, if the offence is committed in circumstances of gross violence, the Court must impose a non-parole period of at least 4 years unless the Court finds that special reasons exist. If the victim is an emergency worker, the mandatory non-parole period increases to 5 years.
Provisions:
S16, Intentionally Cause Serious Injury
S15A, Intentionally Cause Serious Injury (gross violence).
Recklessly cause serious injury (with a related offence involving gross violence)
A serious injury is an injury which endangers life, is substantial and protracted and/or which causes the destruction of a fetus (other than during a medical procedure). These offences are determined in the County Court of Victoria and have a maximum term of 15 years imprisonment. The distinction between recklessly cause serious injury and intentionally cause serious injury is the accused’s state of mind at the time of the offending. To be convicted of recklessly causing serious injury, the Prosecution must prove that the accused was aware at the time of the alleged offending that serious injury was “probable” or “likely” to occur from the accused’s actions.
The Prosecution must prove that the accused, him or herself, had this awareness. It is not enough that a reasonable person would have understood that serious injury would likely occur. Often it is described as the accused doing something in the awareness that the victim would probably be seriously injured but went ahead anyway. Accused persons charged with “single punch” assaults that result in serious injury are more frequently convicted of recklessly cause serious injury.
The offence is also aggravated if committed in circumstances of gross violence. Whilst the offence has the same maximum sentence as the base offence without gross violence, if the offence is committed in circumstances of gross violence, the Court must impose a non-parole period of at least 4 years unless the Court finds that special reasons exist. If the victim is an emergency worker, the mandatory non-parole period increases to 5 years.
Provisions:
S17, Recklessly Causing Serious Injury
S15B, Recklessly Causing Serious Injury (gross violence)
Causing injury intentionally
An injury is defined as a physical injury or harm to mental health, whether temporary or permanent. It is distinguished from serious injury by the gravity of the harm. In circumstances where the injury is caused intentionally, the maximum sentence is 10 years imprisonment. In order for a injury to be caused intentionally, the High Court of Australia has found that the accused must have a general intent to commit the act involved in the offence, or specific intent to produce the serious injury: He Kaw Teh [1985].
Where the victim is an emergency worker, a Court must impose a non-parole period of not less than 6 months unless special reasons exist. These offences can be heard in the Magistrates’ Court where the maximum sentencing jurisdiction is 2 years for a single offence and 5 years for multiple offences.
Provisions:
S18, Causing Injury Intentionally & Recklessly
Causing injury recklessly
An injury is defined as a physical injury or harm to mental health, whether temporary or permanent. It is distinguished from serious injury by the gravity of the harm. To be convicted of recklessly causing injury, the Prosecution must prove that the accused was aware at the time of the alleged offending that injury was “probable” or “likely”. The Prosecution must prove that the accused, him or herself, had this awareness. It is not enough that a reasonable person would have understood that injury would likely occur. Often it is described as the accused doing something in the awareness that the victim would probably be injured but went ahead anyway.
In circumstances where the injury is caused recklessly, the maximum sentence is 5 years imprisonment. Where the victim is an emergency worker, a Court must impose a non-parole period of not less than 6 months unless special reasons exist. These offences can be heard in the Magistrates’ Court where the maximum sentencing jurisdiction is 2 years for a single offence and 5 years for multiple offences.
Provisions;
S18, Causing Injury Intentionally & Recklessly
Statutory assault
Under s31 of the Crimes Act, there are 5 separate assault related offences:
- Assaulting or threatening to assault a person with intent to commit an indictable offence – s31(1)(a).
- Assaulting or threatening to assault an emergency worker on duty (or a person lawfully assisting an emergency worker on duty) – s31(1)(b), (ba).
- Resisting an emergency worker on duty (or a person lawfully assisting an emergency worker on duty) – s31(1)(b), (ba).
- Obstructing an emergency worker on duty (or a person lawfully assisting an emergency worker on duty) – s31(1)(b), (ba).
- Assaulting or threatening to assault a person with intent to resist or prevent arrest – s31(1)(c).
Assault is defined as the direct or indirect application of force to the body of, or to the clothing or equipment worn by, a person (s31(3)). Force includes applying to the victim heat, light, electric current, or any other form of energy, including actual physical contact. Statutory assault is punishable by 5 years maximum imprisonment. Statutory assault can be heard in the Magistrates’ Court where the maximum sentencing jurisdiction is 2 years for a single offence and 5 years for multiple offences.
Provisions:
S31, Statutory Assault
Common law assault
Assault is an offence at common law, which means that it was made an offence by the Courts in the past whilst hearing cases. Common law assault applies to cases where the accused put the victim in fear of the use of force, but does not require the actual application of force. So, for example, if someone enters another’s personal space in a manner which puts them in fear, but does not actually apply physical force, this can be a common law assault. This is contrasted with statutory assault, where there is an actual application of force.
Assault with intent to commit a sexual offence
From 1 July 2015, new legislation brings into effect the new offence of assault with intent to commit a sexual offence, pursuant to the new section 42. This offence carries with it a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. A person commits this offence if :
- he or she intentionally applies force to another;
- the alleged victim does not consent to the application of that force;
- at the time of applying that force the accused intends that the alleged victim take part in a sexual act; and
- the accused does not reasonably believe that the alleged victim would consent to taking part in the sexual act.
Pursuant to section 37F, a person is deemed to have taken part in a sexual act if:
- the alleged victim is sexually penetrated or sexually touched by another person or an animal; or
- the accused sexually penetrates or sexually touches another person, or themselves or an animal.
See our section on sex offences for further information in relation to the definition of sexual penetration sexual touching, and consent.
Serious Offenders Legislation
In 2018, the Victorian Parliament enacted the Serious Offenders Act 2018 to allow for ongoing supervision and detention of ‘eligible offenders’ which includes offenders who have been convicted of a serious violent offence. The legislation provides a mechanism by which the Secretary of the Department of Justice and Regulation can apply to a Court to have an eligible offender placed on a supervision or detention order. If granted, the legislation allows for an eligible offender to be supervised by the Department of Justice and can include conditions, such as:
- The eligible offender must reside in a specified residential or residential treatment facility;
- The eligible offender must not leave Victoria;
- The eligible offender must advise if they have changed employment; and
- The eligible offender must comply with all directions given by the Secretary.
If the Secretary applies for a detention order, the Court can grant the application and the eligible offender will be detained for up to three years, even if their sentence has expired. The legislation provides that a detention order should only be made where a Court finds that the offender poses an unacceptable risk to the safety of the community.
Whilst these provisions have been enacted for some time in relation to serious sex offenders, the 2018 legislation expands these powers to serious violent offenders and so must be considered in the context of a Plea or finding of guilt with respect to a serious violent offence.
Why You Should Choose Galbally Parker Assault Lawyers
When it comes to navigating the complexities of assault cases, choose Galbally Parker lawyers. Our firm is renowned for a commitment to excellence and a proven track record of success. Our team of highly skilled assault lawyers possess a deep understanding of assault law, prioritising personalised attention for every client and tailoring our legal strategies to suit their unique needs and circumstances. With us by your side, you can rest assured that your case will be handled with diligence and expertise, as we work tirelessly to protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcome for your matter. Get in touch with us today.