Brits: what does "GBH" mean? (Terrorist Masood conviction list)

See query. From today BBC on line:

Masood was not the subject of any current investigations and there was no prior intelligence about his intent to mount a terrorist attack, police say.

However, he was known to the police and had a range of previous convictions for assaults, including GBH, possession of offensive weapons and public order offences.

He has not been convicted of any terrorism offences.

Anyone with any information about Masood can call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321

Grievous Bodily Harm

Grievous Bodily Harm

ETA: Ninja’d! Why, I oughta… :wink:

I totally read this as “GHB.” Gamma Hydroxybutyrate… totally sent me down a different train of thought.

What’s the equivalent in the US?

Battery?

IANAL, but my guess would be battery, particularly aggravated battery (note that the definition of “battery” in the U.S. includes any “offensive touching,” not just infliction of injury).

Felony Assault I think

(which is another way of referring to aggravated battery…)

The definition of “assault” in the U.S. seems like it varies in different jurisdictions, and “aggravated / felony assault” may be different from simple assault.

A rule of thumb that I was once taught (and, being a rule of thumb, it’s probably not entirely accurate) was this: “‘Assault’ means that I tell you I’m going to hit you. ‘Battery’ means that I actually hit you.”

Yeah the terms get a little slippery.

Actually, not quite true, from what I found:

The second part is what I mean. And, yes, intent is required, and there must have been a real fear put into the other person.

These charges under the Offences Against The Person Act 1861 have been recommended by the Law Commission for replacement by ones that are a bit more comprehensible to modern understanding. Few ordinary people can appreciate the difference between Assault, Actual Bodily Harm and Grievous Bodily Harm.

At least in this (Cayman Islands) quaint corner of the realm the distinctions used are:
Assault - can be verdal only
Actual Bodily Harm - some injury is visible - a bruise, scratch
Grievous Bodily Harm - blood is drawn.

Not sure if that holds elsewhere in the UK.

The step from ABH to GBH is a short one.

In Texas we’d call it Serious Bodily Injury (SBI). Assault is hitting someone, but Aggravated Assault comes in two forms: causing Serious Bodily Injury, or using or exhibiting a Deadly Weapon.

Serious Bodily Injury is defined in the code as, “bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.”

Agreed; it’s not solely “I’m going to hit you,” but I’m able to somehow convince you that the threat of me hitting you is real.