Where a complainant's prior familiarity with an accused is based on only brief and infrequent sightings a substantial time before the offence, the trial judge must give a warning about the danger of convicting on recognition evidence, including that an honest and confident witness may be mistaken. The nature and character of the witness's previous connection with the accused is the crucial issue, rather than the characterisation of the evidence as 'recognition' evidence. A dock identification in a recognition case requires directions explaining its limited relevance.
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