Where a trial judge refuses to sever counts on the basis that prejudice can be cured by directions, the trial judge must actually give the specific and powerful directions contemplated; generic directions about considering counts separately and not reasoning from tendency are insufficient where the prejudice arises from the jury's inevitable knowledge of the accused's prior convictions for similar offences. The proviso cannot save a conviction where the failure to direct resulted in the loss of a chance of acquittal. A prejudicial failure to give a necessary direction may have the same consequences as a misdirection for proviso purposes.
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