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Tuvalu Island Courts Bench Book - Federal Court of Australia

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Assaulting, resisting or wilfully obstructing a police <strong>of</strong>ficer<br />

Section s240(b) Penal Code (Cap 8)<br />

Description<br />

Every person is guilty <strong>of</strong> an <strong>of</strong>fence who assaults, resists or wilfully<br />

obstructs:<br />

• a police <strong>of</strong>ficer who is duly executing his or her duty; or<br />

• any person acting in aid <strong>of</strong> that police <strong>of</strong>ficer.<br />

Elements • The person named in the charge is the same person who is<br />

appearing in <strong>Court</strong>;<br />

• The accused:<br />

<br />

<br />

used physical force on a police <strong>of</strong>ficer or person helping<br />

the police <strong>of</strong>ficer; or<br />

resisted a police <strong>of</strong>ficer or person helping the police<br />

<strong>of</strong>ficer; or<br />

wilfully obstructed a police <strong>of</strong>ficer or person helping the<br />

police <strong>of</strong>ficer;<br />

• There was no legal excuse for the force being used;<br />

• The police <strong>of</strong>ficer was duly executing his or her duty.<br />

Commentary<br />

Burden and standard <strong>of</strong> pro<strong>of</strong><br />

The prosecution must prove all the elements beyond reasonable<br />

doubt. If the defence establishes to your satisfaction that there is a<br />

reasonable doubt, then the prosecution has failed.<br />

Identification<br />

In <strong>Court</strong>, the prosecution should identify the person charged by<br />

clearly pointing out that person in <strong>Court</strong>.<br />

The prosecution must provide evidence to prove that it was the<br />

accused who assaulted, resisted or obstructed.<br />

Definition <strong>of</strong> assault<br />

An assault is any act by which a person intentionally causes another<br />

person to apprehend immediate unlawful violence.<br />

<strong>Tuvalu</strong> <strong>Island</strong> <strong><strong>Court</strong>s</strong> <strong>Bench</strong> <strong>Book</strong> June 2004

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