In multi-complainant sexual offence cases, evidence across counts may be mutually admissible for purposes including explaining absence of complaint, rebutting suggestions of fantasy, rebutting innocent association, and explaining the accused's belief in impunity. Severance of an indictment does not cure the complexity of jury directions where the severed evidence would remain admissible as uncharged act evidence. The complexity of jury directions alone is unlikely to constitute prejudice justifying severance where the evidence is mutually admissible.
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