Battery

• Charged under s39 Criminal Justice Act 1988
• Defined as applying unlawful force to the victim.
• Actus Reus

  The actus reus of battery is the act of applying unlawful force - no injury is required.
• Actus Reus

  This can be by the slightest touching (Collins and Wilcock)
• Actus Reus

  Force can be indirect (Haystead), act can be indirect (DPP v K)
• Actus Reus

  An omission is sufficient for actus reus (DPP v Santa Bermudez)
• Mens Rea

  The defendant must either intend (Mohan) or be subjectively reckless (Cunningham) as to applying force on the victim.
• Causation rules apply.