Assault????

Question

Example:
A man punches a girl in the nose for fun, as a result breaks her nose and she starts bleeding, and she cries. The man laughs about it.

Question:
If someone informs the police about it(and have video evidence to prove it), but she don’t want to press charges, will the man be prosecuted by the State anyway(assault it is a public crime or not)?

Thank you.

And by the way, someone that witness the crime is forced by law to report it to the police or not?

The State may prosecut, but the State is not forced by law to prosecut this type of crime, is that it?

Answer 1

A witness is not obligated to report this to the police. If the State wants to prosecute, regardless of the victim's feelings, it may do so.

Answer 2

The girl needs to take the video and talk to a crisis counselor. She could start by calling a teacher or trusted adult, a rape hotline, or a victim's advocacy group, and explaining exactly what happened. She may be afraid to press charges, but she has to know that you don't hit someone in the nose "for fun". The person who did this needs to be stopped. At the very least, the police should see the tape, if only to make note of what this man did, in case it happens to someone else in the future.

Answer 3

Someone is punched in the nose for fun? I sure do hope that the police will prosecute even if she doesn't want to press charges. At the very least, someone should punch the puncher in the nose for "fun."

Answer 4

First I am confused concerning the man (being an adult) and a girl (being a child). If that is the case than law enforcement would have to notify the guardian / parents and decide if they want to pursue charges. The charge would be aggravated battery (a felony) for the broken nose. Possibly child abuse.
If it is two adults, it is considered aggravated battery also but the victim does not have to pursue charges, video or not, and the state cannot supercede unless it is a domestic violence incident.