I need answers from someone who knows CANADIAN law!!?

Question

A girl I know just told me her parents are pressing charges because I beat her up... There are about 10 witnesses who all say she threw first punch... And a lot of people would testify that she is a pathalogical/compulsive liar (not sure which one is right, wanna let me know that too?) I'm really nervous because I beat her up and I managed to walk away from the fight with no bruises mostly because she cant punch... She is 15, I am 16...
Can I still be charged?
How long does she have to press charges?
How long will it take for the police to talk to me after she presses charges?
Can her parents press charges?
Will I likely be convicted?
If I am convicted, will I have a permanent criminal record or will it be erased when I turn 18?
If she wins, what punishment will I get?
Would it still be apropriate to take her to small claims court for the money she owes me?
Will I be tried as an adult?
Anything else I should know since I'm in this situation?

Answer 1

If you are charged it won't be that serious since you are a minor, and it will come off your record at 18. Make sure your witnesses are at the trial, so they know you didn't start it and simply say it was defence and getting to a trial can be a very long time. The most that will happen is you would do community service since you are a minor and you didn't start it. I think you are looking for a compulsive liar (someone who lies non-stop). Drop the money thing...they might say it is a reason why you beat her up!

Answer 2

It can still be assault if someone else throws the first punch. You do have a right to defend yourself, but you must use an amount of force commensurate with the attack that was launched at you - if you were hit once, you could get away with decking your antagonist - once. But you cannot then legally proceed to wail on them after returning the punch.

You might avoid charges - they won't always pursue someone if they have never heard from you before, and it depends on what they hear from all those witnesses. If you are charged, it will probably be as a minor unless she was really badly hurt - then they could, at 16, file adult charges for you.

The odds are good you won't get a permanent record - even if you do go to an adult court, some provisions of the YOA still apply.

But I must say - while you'll probaby get off lucky this time - don't do this again. It isn't worth all the worry and stuff you've been through these last few days, is it?

Loans are hard to get back from a minor in law unfortunately. People that young cannot be bound in a contract, and you might have to eat this one...

Answer 3

A compulsive liar.
Nice how you throw in at the end how she owes you money. I'm supposing that is what the fight was over. I suggest that you press charges on her if they were pressed on you. Then you both can just drop charges. Happens all the time regardless of who was right or wrong. If she is sure she will win she may not agree to drop charges. All witnesses must be on your side. If even one person is on her side I think you may be in trouble cause it is going to come out that she was defending herself cause you were threatening her for money she owed you. Doesn't matter if she threw the first punch or not, you instigated the fight.