Section 110(1) of the Evidence Act 2008 (Vic) abolishes the common law rule in R v Rowton and permits lay opinion evidence as to an accused's good character, not merely evidence of general reputation. Trial judges must not give directions that diminish the value of good character evidence by suggesting that offences committed in private undermine evidence of the accused's good reputation, including reputation for appropriate dealings with children. Evidence of good character 'in a particular respect' — such as the absence of sexual impropriety with children — is admissible under s 110, and where such evidence is led, the prosecution is confined to rebutting evidence in that particular respect.
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