What the Police must prove - Grievous Bodily Harm

In order for the Police to prove their case at Court, they must prove each of the following matters beyond a reasonable doubt.

1. The accused did grievous bodily harm to the complainant; and

2. That the doing of the grievous bodily harm was unlawful.

"Grievous bodily harm" is defined to mean

(a) the loss of a distinct organ of the body; or

(b) serious disfigurement; or

(c) any bodily injury of such nature that, if left untreated, would endanger or be likely to endanger life or cause or be likely to cause permanent injury to health;

whether or not medical treatment is or could have been available.

The jury must disregard the availability or not of any medical treatment, and have regard only to the nature of the injury itself.

It will be necessary for the Police in every offence to prove that the accused was the person who committed the offence.