What is the test for determining the severity of a victim's injuries in an assault case?

we also have 'cautioned against giving undue weight to the severity of the victim's wounds, as horrible wounds may be as consistent with a killing in the heat of passion, in an "explosion of violence," as with the intent to inflict cruel suffering.' " (People v. Cole (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1158, 1213-1214 (Cole).) "It does not follow, however, that because the severity of the victim's wounds is not necessarily determinative of the defendant's intent to torture, the nature of the victim's wounds cannot as a matter of law be probative of intent. Intent is a state of mind. A defendant's state of mind must, in the absence of the defendant's own statements, be established by the circumstances surrounding the commission of the offense. [Citation.] The condition of the victim's body may establish circumstantial evidence of the requisite intent." (People v. Mincey (1992) 2 Cal.4th 408, 433.)