There is a strong leaning in favour of severance of sexual offences involving multiple complainants unless the principal evidence of each complainant is admissible in the cases involving the other complainants, but there is no absolute rule and the ultimate touchstone is prejudice and the capacity of the court to counter it. The commission of sexual acts upon members of the same household at comparable ages is a promising commencing point for similar fact evidence admissibility. Opinion evidence about the general behaviour of abused children is not admissible where the subject matter does not require expert assistance for the jury.
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