Causing Grievous Bodily Harm or Wounding with Intent

Under Section 33 of the Crimes Act 1900, intentional GBH refers to deliberate actions that cause significant injuries, such as:

• Permanent disfigurement
• Serious organ damage
• Bone fractures
• Life-threatening injuries

The maximum penalties are:

• Imprisonment: Up to 25 years

The court takes these charges very seriously, particularly if the injuries are severe.

To secure a conviction for intentional GBH, the prosecution must prove:

1. Intentional Harm – The accused deliberately inflicted the injury on the victim.
2. Grievous Bodily Harm – The injury caused must be significant and meet the legal definition of GBH.
3. Causation – The defendant’s actions directly led to the injury.

The prosecution must prove the defendant's actions were intentional, not accidental or reckless.

Possible defences include:

• Self-Defence – If the accused was protecting themselves or others from imminent harm.
• Duress – If the accused was forced to act due to threats of serious harm.
• Necessity – If the actions were necessary to prevent greater harm.
• Lack of Intent – If the harm caused was not intentional or premeditated.

A skilled lawyer will assess the facts and determine the best defence strategy.

The penalties for intentional GBH can vary, but may include:

• Section 10 Dismissal – No conviction recorded
• Conditional Release Order (CRO) – A good behaviour bond
• Community Correction Order (CCO) – Supervised order with conditions
• Intensive Correction Order (ICO) – Custodial sentence in the community
• Imprisonment – Up to 25 years

The severity of the penalty will depend on the circumstances of the offence.