A McKinney direction is not required where a police conversation with an accused took place at the accused's home rather than in police custody. A full Edwards consciousness of guilt direction is not required where lies are relevant to credibility and to the inference of guilty knowledge from failure to provide a reasonable explanation for possession of stolen property. Where a receiving case is not entirely circumstantial because possession is directly proved, comprehensive directions on burden and standard of proof and rational inferences may suffice without a full Chamberlain direction. McMurdo P signalled that courts may in future require McKinney-style directions or exclude evidence where police fail without reasonable explanation to record field interviews.
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