This article discusses the extent to which changes initially brought in wounding/assault cases between 1990- 1993 were subsequently reduced, so that defendants ultimately were convicted of a lesser offense than that with which they were first charged. This study predates the introduction in 1994 of Charging Standards for Assaults, which provided guidelines on the most appropriate charge. Findings of the study demonstrate that the offense with which the defendant is charged can change following committal to trial and that defendants may be acquitted of a more serious charge but convicted of a less serious offense. The effect of the Charging Standards is to be monitored using court proceedings statistics. A further study is proposed to analyze the extent to which more consistent charging results in changes in practice, with the rate of attrition in serious charges being reduced. Tables, references