2007-09-20 12:54:08 · 10 answers · asked by chris 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Assault is an attempt to cause harm -- and generally is applicable as long as the attacker intended the action that resulted in harm, whether the attacker actually intended the harm to result or not.
In other words -- if I intentionally swing a baseball bat at you -- whether I intend to hit you or not, and whether or not I think it would actually hurt if it does hit -- that's still assault.
Attempted murder requires the specific intent to kill someone -- and a present ability to do so. It's a much more difficult charge to prove, because you need to prove what the person was planning to do -- rather than just proving what they did.
2007-09-20 12:57:40 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The state of mind of the defendant and their intent. Usually there has to be clear and substantial evidence that the defendant's actions were intended to cause someone death. I.e. shooting at someone but missing would be attempted murder because they wanted their gun to kill the person. Assault has varying degrees from a slap on the face to beating someone up. If someone beat someone up so bad that they almost died they could get attempted murder for that, but the DA would have to prove that the defendant intended to kill the person.
2007-09-20 12:59:48 · answer #2 · answered by Eisbär 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
About 10-20 years.
2007-09-20 12:56:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assault is one person going upside someones head.Attempted murder is 6 thugs beating someone unconscious.
2007-09-20 12:59:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
assault is often defined as "attempted battery"
attempted murder is when one comes very close to murdering someone
2007-09-20 12:57:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's the difference between beating someone up, and trying to kill them.
2007-09-20 12:56:57 · answer #6 · answered by Beardog 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Intent.
2007-09-20 12:59:43 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Intent.
2007-09-20 13:04:07 · answer #8 · answered by smedrik 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would be like slapping someone vs. chasing them down and they live after you shoot them. Big Difference.
2007-09-20 13:01:49 · answer #9 · answered by midnitrondavu 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_murder
Here it is in laymen's terms...
2007-09-20 12:58:52 · answer #10 · answered by MsW 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋