Assault in the First Degree Law and Legal Definition
Degrees of assault are defined according to state laws. The following is an example of a state statute (Connecticut) on assault in the first degree:
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-59. A person is guilty of assault in the first degree when:a. with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person, he causes such injury to such person or to a third person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument;
b. with intent to disfigure another person seriously and permanently, or to destroy, amputate or disable permanently a member or organ of his body, he causes such injury to such person or to a third person;
c. under circumstances evincing an extreme indifference to human life he recklessly engages in conduct which creates a risk of death to another person, and thereby causes serious physical injury to another person;
d. with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person and while aided by two or more other persons actually present, he causes such injury to such person or to a third person; or
e. with intent to cause physical injury to another person, he causes such injury to such person or to a third person by means of the discharge of a firearm.
