I would be particularly interested in a legal opinion as I am not particularly knowledgeable in that department.
I don't want to go into too much detail as to my involvement in the situation, but I will just say it was in a professional capacity. (I know neither of the people involved outside of this particular event)
During a night out a young woman was out with her friend in a club enjoying herself, yes she had been drinking. Whilst she was in the club she bumped into her ex-boyfriend. He wanted to talk to her, she did not want to talk. She ended up leaving the club alone to get away from him.
He followed her from the club shouting at her, intent on getting her attention. He aggressively pursued her along the street, she was half running and he kept grabbing her shoulder to try and turn her around. I witnessed this, she made it very clear she wanted to be left alone. After 4/5 times of being grabbed she slapped him. He then punched her in the face and she fell to the floor.
I attended to her and gave first aid for a swollen and bruised cheek.
A police officer also witnessed this and allowed the man to go as she had slapped him first and the two assaults cancelled each other out.
Is this right? It didn't sit well with me at the time, I argued with the officer but got told in no uncertain terms to shut up and do my job (medical).