Where two Crown witnesses give conflicting evidence and one witness's account is favourable to the accused, the jury must be directed that if the favourable evidence leaves them with a reasonable doubt, they should acquit — even if they regard that witness as less reliable. General directions on onus and standard of proof given in a separate part of the summing-up are insufficient to cure a specific misdirection that casts the task as choosing between the witnesses. The Liberato principle applies not only to conflicts between Crown and defence evidence but also to conflicts between Crown witnesses where one is favourable to the defence.
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