In South Australia, a magistrate's failure to give adequate reasons for decision is an error of law. Lawson v Lee no longer represents the law on this point. Where credibility is the central issue, a magistrate must assess the evidence of both sides and give reasons for rejecting the defence evidence; recording only one side of the judicial equation is inadequate. Reasons must be coherent, intelligible and comprehensive, adequate to allow an appellate court to perform its function, and such that justice is seen to be done.
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