Here in the UK, punching someone is an offence (which offence exactly depends on the circumstances) but cannot be held to be a criminal act unless a criminal conviction occurs.
Indeed if you were to refer to someone who had punched someone else but not been convicted of it as 'a criminal' - even if they received a police caution for it - you may find yourself on the wrong side of the law, for defamation.[/QUOTE]
One may commit a criminal act and not be convicted, hence not a "criminal." Hairs are being split here: I am not saying Clarkson is a criminal. For example, one may commit a criminal act against another person, and if that person is intimidated into not pressing charges, it would be defamation to call the actor a "criminal," but not at all defamatory to observe that the actor committed a "criminal act," by which I mean an act punishable under the law. Truth is a defense to defamation in the U.S. and the U.K. Look it up if you like.
There are defenses available to a defendant who "punches" (your word) another. Self-defense for example. No such defenses seem applicable in this instance. What appears to be the case here, from what I have read, is that a drunk presenter who stayed out drinking too long punched a smaller person in a subservient employment position out of anger fueled by inebriation. Not a case I would like to defend, money aside.
I enjoyed Clarkson and the TG crew for many years. I have now had enough of Clarkson and his way of interacting with others. Opinions may vary, and all may still abide. Cheers.
