The Criminal Code has defined assault in such a manner that any physical contact without consent is enough to satisfy charges against you. This makes assault one of the most common criminal offences in Canada. Something as simple as a push or a shove has the potential of resulting in criminal charges.
There are different categories of assault. Depending on the nature of the offence and injuries to the complainant, a person may be charged with simple assault, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm or aggravated assault.
Assaults that occur in the context of a domestic relationship are treated as more serious and typically take longer to resolve. An assault against a spouse or family member, particularly female partners is considered an aggravating factor given that there are genuine concerns of further violence in the future. Therefore, even if the complainant later regrets calling 911 and wants to take back their statement to the police, the matter is out of their hands and now up to counsel to try and resolve the matter with Crown.
If you have been charged with Assault in BC, contact us for a consultation.