[OrioleFan]

The way I've heard it described:

Assault is the threat
Battery is the act

It is assault and battery

[RamingtonStall]

Ref your: <<"The way I've heard it described: Assault is the threat, Battery is the act. It is assault and battery">>

Thirty Years ago, it was typically referred to as "Assault and Battery", but more recently, I have noticed that LEO's typically use the word "Assault" to describe the event whether there was actually an Assault or not.

Perhaps I should ask someone to dig up their Black's Law Dictionary and check for me, but I believe The Assault is putting a person in fear of a Battery and the Battery is the actual Physical Contact. The point is that it is possible to have an event where one occurs without the other.

Joy! ([: ^ ) RamS