Intoxication directions need not be elaborate where intoxication is not in dispute, the primary defence is accident, and defence counsel tactically declines to seek further directions. A Zoneff direction on lies and consciousness of guilt is not required where the prosecution confines its use of lies to credibility and neither counsel discerns a risk of misuse. An offender's low IQ requires moderation of general deterrence but not necessarily specific deterrence where the offender is sentenced as a serious violent offender under s 6F of the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) and the sentencing judge has observed the offender's actual capacity exceeds test results.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 9 later cases that cite this judgment.