What's the difference between assualt and battery?

Battery is physically touching somebody (through a slap, punch, kick, etc).

Assault is causing a person to have apprehension of being struck.

Examples:

Walking up to somebody and cocking your arm like you are going to punch, but then not doing it is assault. If you did that and actually punched the person it would be assault and battery.

Walking up to somebody when their back is turned and sucker punching them in the back of the head would just be battery, as their was no apprehension of being struck, so therefore no assault, just battery....Show more