... mens rea required or any defence. The express actus reus words are wound, inflict and GBH. I will analyse each word in order to find their meaning within the offence. Wound - A wound is when there is a break in the surface of the skin. It was decided that both the dermis and the epidermis of the skin must be broken for it to be classed as a 'wound'.1 Inflict - The term inflict applies when a person does something to achieve a particular result, for example, punch somebody to hurt them. It is defined as 'any act that causes bodily harm'2, and that infliction does not require any force - it can be indirect as well as direct.3 GBH - Grievous bodily harm was defined in the House of Lords4 as 'really serious bodily harm'. 'Bodily harm' includes psychiatric illness as well as harm to the skin, flesh and bones as ...

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