Evidence of drug addiction admitted to prove motive for a property offence may be excluded where its prejudicial effect outweighs its probative value, particularly where the alleged motive is commonly held and identity is the central issue. A commonly-held motive such as drug addiction is at the remote end of the scale of relevance for identifying a particular offender. Where a corroboration warning is given, expressions suggesting some corroboration exists when there is none will impermissibly water down the warning. A trial judge's charge must adequately summarise the defence case and not disproportionately support the prosecution's arguments.
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