A hates B, and A fights B, resulting in several deep cuts on B's arm. What crime has been committed?

• A. Malicious Wounding
• B. Simple assault
• C. Assault + Battery
• D. Aggravated Malicious Wounding

Answer: (A)

In this scenario the key idea is wounding with malice. The deep cuts show that the skin was broken and serious bodily harm was inflicted during a fight, not just a minor shove or threat. Virginia law treats wounding as an unlawful injury done with malice—the intent to injure—so the act fits malicious wounding: a felony that covers intentionally causing such injuries.

This isn’t simple assault, which covers threats or attempts to injure without the actual wounding. It isn’t strictly assault plus battery in this context, since the combination offense doesn’t capture the specific wounding with malice. It also isn’t a guarantee for aggravated malicious wounding, which would require a higher level of injury or a stronger showing of intent to maim or kill; the description of “several deep cuts” doesn’t necessarily meet that heightened threshold.

So the conduct qualifies as malicious wounding—the best fit given the injury and the intentional, hostile act.