Rana Lawyers Client Steps
Explain your case and we’ll determine if we need to have a conference or simply answer any questions you may be concerned about.
Book in for an initial conference with one of our experienced criminal lawyers and we’ll progress from there.
Our team of criminal legal experts offer more consistent engagement with our clients, to ensure you get the results you want.
What is a Grievous Bodily Harm charge?
This is an offence under section 320 of the Criminal Code Act 1899. A common question arising in these matters is whether the injury is actually grievous bodily harm. The definition is:
- The loss of a distinct part or an organ of the body;
- Serious disfigurement;
- Any bodily injury of such a nature that, if left untreated, would endanger or be likely to endanger life, or cause or be likely to cause permanent injury to health.
Often, proper medical reports will be required, if they have not already been disclosed by the Crown. If they have been disclosed, a forensic examination of the expert’s opinion is vital. An example established by the Court of Appeal is that losing teeth may constitute grievous bodily harm.
What are the penalties of a GBH Charge?
This offence carries a maximum of 14 years imprisonment.
Any person who unlawfully does grievous bodily harm to another is guilty of a crime and is liable for imprisonment of up to 14 years.
The charge must be committed to the District Court for trial before a Jury. This means that your matter starts in the Magistrate’s Court and is committed to the District Court after the evidence is disclosed if it meets the required standard.
Contesting the Charge
If you wish to contest the charge, the Prosecution must prove the following general ‘elements’ of the offence beyond a reasonable doubt:
- You did an act;
- Which resulted in grievous bodily harm;
- To another person.
If the charge is made out, self defence as a defence is most commonly raised. Self defence in this instance means that due to the complainant’s conduct, you were forced to defend yourself and the mechanism of defending yourself was excessive in the circumstances.
If you are convicted of grievous bodily harm, the penalty ordinarily involves imprisonment. It is important to have your case assessed by Rana Lawyers to determine the potential outcomes and consequences of being charged with this offence.
Criminal Law Experts in Grievous Bodily Harm Charges
We can help you understand the court process when it comes to grievous bodily harm charges.
If you are convicted of grievous bodily harm, the penalties vary from fines to terms of imprisonment. It is important to have your case assessed by a lawyer and seek advice on your unique case.
Once you contact Rana Lawyers for an initial consultation with one of our experienced assault lawyers, our team will assess your case, and provide an outline of what is to be expected from the case and what happens once you retain us.
If you are pleading guilty to a grievous bodily harm charge, you will be required to fund our firm’s services for the entirety of the matter.
Our team of experienced lawyers will then start processing the case material, as well as the prosecution’s material. From there, we respond to that material by having another conference with you, retrieving any material we need, and then assessing whether the matter requires case conferencing with the Prosecution.
The next stage is attending Court and the Sentencing hearing.
If there’s a trial, then it’s a much longer procedure, however, our team will lay out what is to be expected in that initial conference with you.
Trust Rana Lawyers
You can trust Rana Lawyers to provide the highest quality of representation in Court.
When you place your trust in us, it comes down to experience in an adversarial setting, because we aren’t an average firm.
The dedicated team at Rana Lawyers has decades of experience in trials and adversarial work, which has profoundly influenced our approach to handling cases.
With a robust team of lawyers, paralegals, legal assistance staff, and administrators, we are fully equipped to offer comprehensive support to our clients throughout their journey in the legal system. No detail will escape our meticulous attention, ensuring you receive the very best care throughout the process.
