Where two charges depend on the uncorroborated evidence of the same complainant, an acquittal on one count based on doubt about the reliability of date evidence does not necessarily require reconsideration of a guilty finding on the other count, provided the doubt relates to reliability of dates rather than the complainant's overall veracity. The Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) is not a 'Territory law' under the Legislation Act 2001 (ACT), meaning provisions expressed to apply in jury trials (such as ss 165 and 165B) may not be directly applicable in ACT judge-alone trials. Victoria is not a 'participating State' under the Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991 (ACT), s 20, and a Practice Direction cannot authorise the taking of evidence by video link in a criminal trial where statutory prerequisites are not met.
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