Cockcroft v Smith (1705) 11 Mod 43 is an English tort law case. It concerned the definition of legitimate self defence.
Facts Mr. Cockcroft ran his finger towards Mr. Smith's eyes. Mr. Smith bit off part of Mr. Cockcroft's finger.
Judgment Holt CJ said in the course of his judgment,
See also English tort law battery Self defence Ashley v Chief Constable of Sussex Police 1 WLR 398 Criminal Law Act 1967 s 3 Criminal Justice Act 2003 s 329
References B Feldthusen, 'The Canadian Experiment with the Civil Action for Sexual Battery' in NJ Mullany (ed) Torts in the Nineties (Sydney, Law Book Co 1997)