In judge-alone criminal trials involving multiple charges under s 651B of the Criminal Code (WA), the trial judge must deal with the evidence on each charge separately, make findings of fact on each charge, and expose the reasoning process linking the principles of law and findings of fact. A global approach to credibility across all charges, without charge-by-charge analysis, constitutes an error of law. The Longman warning requires not merely a recitation of the relevant factors but a genuine engagement with the evidence bearing on reliability, including delay, age, inconsistencies, and the possibility of concoction and contamination.
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