Evidence of sexual offending against children within an extended family group, committed from the accused's teenage years through adulthood, is cross-admissible under s 31A of the Evidence Act 1906 (WA) notwithstanding differences in the gender of complainants and the age of the accused at the time of the offending, where the evidence is capable of demonstrating a continuing pattern of sexual interest in children. The fact that the accused was a juvenile at the time of some offending does not deprive that evidence of significant probative value where the offending forms part of a regular and consistent pattern continuing into adulthood. Claims that Longman warnings are diluted by repetition in multi-count trials, or that an indictment with 34 counts is 'overloaded', are insufficient to enliven the severance discretion.
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