In trials where tendency evidence consists of charged acts on the indictment, a 'bad character' direction warning the jury not to reason from general bad character is unnecessary and potentially contradictory to the correct tendency direction. A direction not to 'punish' the accused for other conduct is similarly inapposite where all tendency evidence is charged conduct. These directions remain appropriate for context evidence and for tendency evidence consisting of uncharged acts. The Bench Book suggested directions must be adapted to the circumstances of each case and departure from them does not constitute appellable error.
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