An Edwards direction on lies should not be given where the accused's out-of-court statement is too ambiguous for the jury to be satisfied it constitutes a deliberate untruth. Where the accused says 'I didn't do it' and the referent of 'it' is unclear, the statement cannot be elevated to a lie evidencing consciousness of guilt; it may only be used in assessing credibility. A case that turns on credibility calls for circumspection in giving an Edwards direction.
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