The charge against Joe: a recap

You’ll recall that Joe has been charged with an offence under section 18 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 – of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. It is not being alleged that Joe himself actually struck the complainant Derek Simpson. Rather, the prosecution is alleging that his association with the conduct of Alan Riley – who is alleged to have struck Simpson, and who is also charged with an offence under section 18 – is such that he (Joe) should also be liable for that offence.

So we need to learn a bit about how the law responds to situations where more than one person takes part in an instance of alleged criminal conduct …