Accused introduces own bad character

The law generally forbidding the prosecution from leading bad character evidence against an accused is fairly clear. The "shield" that an accused has against allegations of bad character - unless they adduce evidence of their own good character or attack the character of prosecution witnesses - is found at s 399(5) Crimes Act 1958. When …

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Freedom of expression triumphs over anonymity

The House of Lords yesterday delivered its decision in Attorney-General's Reference No 3 of 1999 [2009] UKHL 34.The case dealt with an application by the BBC to broadcast a programme identifying an accused person acquitted of criminal charges that might be subject to re-trial. (The UK introduced provisions a few years ago in Part 10 …

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