Being charged with assault can be an incredibly stressful and frightening experience. These types of allegations can turn your whole world upside down in an instant.

First and foremost, take a deep breath. With the right help and guidance, you can get through this difficult time. Reach out to an experienced criminal defence lawyer who can advise and support you during this process.

I understand an assault charge may make you feel scared, overwhelmed and alone. But you don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here to help, and I’ve successfully defended clients against assault charges for over 20 years.

In this blog, I’ll provide an overview of assault charges and what they mean legally. My goal is to help you understand the allegations against you so we can start building the strongest defence possible in your case.

The Definition of Assault Legally speaking, assault refers to the threat or use of force against someone without their consent. An assault conviction can carry severe penalties such as jail time, probation or a criminal record.

There are three main categories of assault in Canada:

Simple Assault – This covers physical attacks or threats of violence causing someone to fear for their safety. Simple assault charges are less serious summary conviction offences. But they still carry penalties like fines of up to $5,000 and jail time of up to six months.

Assault Causing Bodily Harm – As the name suggests, this charge applies to assaults resulting in physical injuries to the victim. Unlike the charges above, assault causing bodily harm is categorized as a more serious indictable offence. If convicted, penalties can include prison time up to 10 years.

Aggravated Assault – This is the most severe type of assault charge involving wounding, maiming or endangering someone’s life. Aggravated assault convictions can result in lifetime prison sentences depending on injuries caused.

Within these categories, charges can range from threats of mild violence resulting in no physical harm all the way to brutal attacks using weapons resulting in devastating trauma. The allegations against you determine how your specific charges get classified.

Common Defences Against Assault Charges As your criminal defence lawyer, my top priority is developing strong legal defences to get your charges withdrawn completely or downgraded to less severe classifications whenever appropriate, given case specifics.

Some common defences we may use to fight your assault charges include:

• Self-Defence – Using reasonable force to protect yourself or someone else can justify assault allegations legally in situations.
• False Accusations – If evidence proves allegations blatantly fabricated for dishonest reasons, charges get dismissed.
• Mistaken Identity – Eyewitnesses do error. If we prove you were wrongly identified commiting assault that wasn’t you charges may vacate.
• Mental Illness – The inability to control actions during medical episodes like PTSD flashbacks or schizophrenic episodes can reduce criminal liability in judgements.

What NOT To Do When Charged With Assault

Learning you face, criminal charges spark emotions, compelling actions attempting speedy resolutions yet often backfiring instead. Out of desperation, many wrongly:

• Talk to Police Prematurely – Any statements made without legal guidance often gets used detrimentally jeopardizing defence efforts later. ALWAYS obtain counsel before talking to authorities.
• Apologize to the Victim – Well-intentioned apologies infer guilt prejudicing objective legal proceedings negatively. Avoid communications with parties involved until after formal judgment.
• Violate Bail/Probation Terms – Strictly adhering to court orders remains imperative avoiding additional charges or jail time complicating defence efforts fighting original allegations. Remain squeaky clean.
• Discuss Charges Publicly – Reserve public conversations always until after cases conclude finally beyond appeals exhausting to prevent damaging out of context information circulating wrongly without clarifications.
• Attempt Quick Fix Pleas – Entering guilty pleas or ABS submissions to simply end cases fast seems tempting but forfeits long term consequences periods future ambitions beyond sentences served by years. Patience!

As difficult awaiting aggressive allegations feels dragging on uncertainty, rash actions impede defence efforts considerably almost always. Trust the process. My singular focus protects your rights and future interests at every turn.

Take a Deep Breath – We Will Get Through This Together

I get it – learning police press assault charges drops intensely stressful bombshells. Although faults are alleged, threats posed against rights and dreams feel temporarily bigger than abilities overcoming monolithic systems alone.

Yet together, we CAN surmount struggles in time by preparing superior defences and staying ahead of the curve. My veteran expertise in maneuvering these processes means scenarios seeming impossible turning hopeful positively again have become norms over 20 years, securing hundreds of dismissals and downgrades fighting for those once perhaps in shoes too petrified, initially seeing justice or redemption forwards during darkest moments overwhelmed.

I vow using my courtroom mastery and bulldog passion for protecting wrongly accused rights that the values, future goals and overall wellbeing central to your life purpose will emerge even stronger winning freedoms fairly once more.

Now let’s get to work! The first step entails thoroughly reviewing allegations, evidence and investigative procedures applied ensuring proper protocols followed safeguarding rights from oversteps that could invalidate entire cases when exposed properly. I remain committed to fighting for the very best outcome possible – this is my specialty bringing peace and power back defending innocents from harms against lives and livelihoods wrongfully.

You are not alone. Not now. Not EVER. Breathe deeply, then call Manbir Sodhi anytime so together we can commence securing the justice and normality deserved, returning beyond clouds soon, undoubtedly. This, too, shall pass mightily.