How much trouble can you get in for stabbing someone? It depends, because there are different charges and penalties associated with the act of stabbing someone, depending on your intent and the circumstances surrounding your assault. Let’s take a look at each of these scenarios so you can see how much trouble you could be in if you stab someone.
What Is An Aggravated Offence
There are two levels of aggravated assault charges. The first is for intentionally wounding another person. This carries a sentence of 5 years on conviction, but an aggravated offence against this section has a maximum penalty of 7 years in prison. The second level is for wounding or attempting to wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm or killing. This can have a minimum sentence of 10 years and carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison on conviction.
What Does The Law Say About Assault Causing Grievous Bodily Harm
The law has a number of consequences for stabbing someone, but the harshest is a prison sentence. The offence of Assault Causing Grievous Bodily Harm carries with it a possible sentence of up to 7 years imprisonment. This can increase to 10 years if there are aggravating factors such as use of weapon, premeditation or malicious intent. As soon as an injury becomes grievous in nature or the victim is hospitalized due to their wounds, the charge changes from assault causing bodily harm to wounding and the penalties increase dramatically. Those convicted on a wounding charge may be sentenced to up to 14 years imprisonment depending on the severity of their injury and its effect on the victim's physical capacity and mental health.
Do I Need a Lawyer If I Am Charged With Grievous Bodily Harm?
If you are found guilty of aggravated wounding and are sentenced to prison, the sentence will not be more than 7 years. However, the sentence can be less than 7 years if there are mitigating circumstances. It is a misdemeanor to wound someone with a knife or other sharp object and punishable by up to 5 years in prison. A minimum jail sentence of 3 months applies for an assault involving only wounding where there is no injury requiring hospital treatment.
What Will Happen at Court
If you're convicted of an aggravated wounding charge, you could be sentenced to imprisonment for at least 10 years, or up to 14 years. A basic stabbing charge will usually result in a conviction with no more than 6 months in prison. To be convicted of a wound with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, you'll need the intention to cause significant or substantial physical injury. This can mean anything from breaking someone's bone all the way up to destroying part of their organs.
Most charges for serious wounding offences are very difficult for the defence lawyer to beat if there's any kind of hard evidence against the accused person.
