This case clarified the mental element required for assault and battery charges under sections 47 and 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. The House of Lords established that defendants need only intend or be reckless as to the initial assault or battery, not the resulting harm.

Defined the mens rea requirement for s.20 grievous bodily harm, establishing that the defendant need only intend or foresee some harm, not necessarily serious harm. The case clarified the distinction between s.18 and s.20 offences.

Silent phone calls and psychiatric harm can constitute criminal assault and battery

Court of Appeal case establishing that psychiatric injury can constitute actual bodily harm but must amount to more than mere emotions or states of mind.

Railway gatekeeper convicted for manslaughter by omission after failing duty

Consent no defence to serious harm in sadomasochistic sexual activities

Hidden vulnerabilities don't make unlawful act dangerous if unforeseeable to reasonable person

No unlawful act manslaughter without mens rea for the underlying unlawful act

A continuing act can constitute assault when mens rea is formed during the act.

A foetus is not a person in being; murder requires the victim to be born and have independent existence.

Acts must be more than merely preparatory to constitute criminal attempts

Police officers must satisfy secondary victim tests to recover for psychiatric injury.

Defendant liable for victim's unforeseeable reaction to assault

Unlawful act manslaughter requires no foresight of harm by defendant

Assault can be committed indirectly through setting up dangerous situations for victims.

Defendant liable when reasonably foreseeable that vulnerable victim could suffer harm

Injecting heroin is unlawful dangerous act sufficient for manslaughter conviction

Criminal liability established for murder by omission where duty to act exists

Actus reus can be satisfied by omission where legal duty to act exists

Established the 'more than merely preparatory' test for criminal attempts.

Mere presence at scene of crime insufficient for secondary liability without encouragement or assistance

Non-dangerous therapeutic drugs may negate basic intent if taken without recklessness regarding effects.

Provocation does not require sudden loss of temper; delayed reaction possible.

Transferred malice doesn't apply when the type of harm differs from intended

Reasonable person test includes defendant's physical but not mental characteristics.

Intention to cause grievous bodily harm sufficient for murder conviction

Court establishes objective test for dangerous unlawful act in manslaughter cases

Voluntary assumption of care creates criminal duty toward vulnerable adults