Evidence of a stepfather supplying alcohol and marijuana to a teenage stepdaughter and her friends is admissible as relationship evidence in a sexual offence trial where it forms part of a broader pattern of conduct tending to show an abnormal relationship inconsistent with a normal parent-child relationship, particularly where it explains why the complainant continued to live with the accused. However, evidence of reprehensible conduct that is not probative of the charged offence is not made admissible merely by labelling it 'background evidence' or 'relationship evidence'. The jury's acquittals on other counts may demonstrate that the relationship evidence did not cause prejudice.
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