Criminal law cases are some of the toughest anyone can face. With personal injury cases, the worst-case scenario is you lose out on compensation. Here, you’re fighting to defend your name and avoid massive repercussions. Whether you’re trying to prove complete innocence or gain a better result and fair trial, a criminal defence law specialist can help.
Defending Cases Of Offences Against A Person
One of the common categories of crimes defence lawyers deal with is offences against a person. Essentially, what this means is someone has suffered as a direct result of your actions, and you now face criminal charges as a result. It could be that you are innocent because the other party is lying, or there’s a case of mistaken identity. It could be that you are guilty more through accident than deliberate design. Or it could be that you are completely guilty and just want a fair trial. Whatever the situation, the best criminal defence lawyer options in Adelaide can help. Here are some of the different types of offences against a person in Australian criminal law.
Different Cases Classed As Offence Against A Person
Assault
The first one is pretty simple. Physical acts of harm with direct injuries and psychological effects can count as assault. This could be a physical assault after hitting someone, an assault with a weapon, or a sexual assault. The impact could be superficial on the surface but life-changing to the target. Whatever the situation, victims have the right to press charges.
Threat of Assault
It’s also important to know that the threat of an assault is also grounds for a criminal case, even if the action isn’t carried out. As long as victims feel harassed, intimidated, or scared to go about their day, that’s enough. Threats can come from verbal abuse in the street with a clear threat to do harm, from brandishing weapons, or from letters in the mail. Small-scale physical aggression also counts as a threat, such as shoving someone out of the way.
Breaching Interventions
In some cases, victims of assault or repeated threats will take out a restraining order. Otherwise, the police may be able to impose an intervention to restrict the movements and behaviour of those in the wrong. Individuals who knowingly and deliberately breach that order face criminal charges.
Murder
Murder charges are brought when an individual causes someone’s death, and it’s believed the act was intentional. Some cases may be crimes of passion where there is a sudden urge to kill someone because of their actions. Others are more premeditated and planned out. Then there are the cases where the death could be from self-defence, which could also mean a manslaughter charge instead.
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is different from murder but quite complicated. There are various forms depending on the intention behind the death and the situation. For example, many cases are deemed involuntary, as someone died following an accident or misjudgment during an assault. Others are voluntary. You can still get a life sentence in the worst cases.
Death by Dangerous Driving
These cases of manslaughter and murder may also be about dangerous driving. Drivers who injure or kill motorists, cyclists, or pedestrians through their poor choices can end up in prison for up to 15 years. This could be through recklessness, such as speeding or failing to stop at a light, or through intoxication, distracted driving, or fatigue.
Neglect
Criminal neglect refers to cases where one individual’s lack of care and attention leads to them harming a dependant. These cases often deal with child victims but can also relate to those with disabilities. Neglect can be an ongoing failure to provide basic needs, a withdrawal of healthcare, or any form of abandonment.
Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is a growing problem with the aging population in Australia. There are various situations in which victims and their families end up. Some care home residents are deliberately mistreated by abusive carers, while others suffer due to a lack of staff, training, or time. Either way, those guilty can face serious charges.
Humiliating or Degrading Filming
This final charge may seem less damaging at first, but it can still cause plenty of emotional scars. Since 1953, it has been illegal to film someone forced into doing something degrading. You can face up to a year in prison for this sort of assault unless you can prove there was consent.
Finding The Best Defense Law Team
A lot is riding on these cases and on having a qualified lawyer on your side. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the case or the severity of the offence, everyone has the right to a fair hearing. The court must hear valuable testimony and evidence from the prosecution and defence to make an informed decision. Defendants who choose not to get legal representation run the risk of making mistakes and missing out.
A skilled defence law team will go over all the evidence, find the cracks and loopholes, and get you the best possible outcome. Even if there is no way to escape a guilty plea, you might be able to get a reduced jail sentence or some kind of plea bargain. It all comes down to the specifics of the individual case. Professional criminal defence lawyers will put their effort into building the strongest case possible while helping you through the process.
Don’t Deal With Criminal Charges Alone
These offences against a person can be hard for anyone to deal with. Naturally, empathy goes to the victim and their loved ones, especially if an incident or complete accident leads to death. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t also hard on the defendant. Unless you honestly believe the victim got what they deserved, and it would take an extraordinary circumstance for courts to agree, you’re going to be dealing with the stress and guilt of what happened. Add in the stress of the court cases, and it’s a tough challenge. Let the best defence lawyers lighten the load and get you the right result.
