A direction on good character evidence that tells the jury the law requires them to take the evidence into account in considering whether the Crown has proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt is adequate, even without an express reference to the 'improbability' of the accused having committed the offence. The notion of improbability is sufficiently conveyed by the direction to take the character evidence into account when assessing proof of guilt. A balancing direction that character evidence cannot prevail over evidence of guilt does not negate the character direction where the jury has been told on multiple occasions to take the character evidence into account.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 4 later cases that cite this judgment.
1 of the 4 citing cases carry a classified treatment. How each court treated it is available to signed-in members.