What offense is committed when a man punches his wife, resulting in her eye swelling shut?

In this scenario, the offense committed is classified as aggravated assault. Aggravated assault typically involves an attack that causes serious bodily injury or involves the use of a weapon. In this case, the action of punching the wife results in her eye swelling shut, which can be viewed as causing significant injury, indicating that the assault was more than just a simple altercation.

Aggravated assault is often charged when the injury inflicted is substantial enough to warrant a more serious legal response. It also reflects the intent to cause harm, which elevates the crime from simple assault.

Other options do exist, such as domestic violence, which may also apply since this incident occurs within the context of a relationship, but aggravated assault is more specifically related to the nature and degree of injury inflicted. Battery is often used interchangeably with assault in some jurisdictions; however, in many legal systems, battery specifically refers to the actual physical contact or harm. In contrast, the distinction of aggravated assault highlights the severity of the act itself. Thus, aggravated assault is the most fitting legal classification for this scenario.