KHB v WA

[2026] WASCA 22

Western Australia Court of Appeal

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Interrogate

Catchwords

1. Evidence
2. › Trial
3. › Comment by prosecutor
4. › Reference to failure of accused to give evidence
5. › Impermissible content
6. › Whether prosecutor's comment contravened statutory prohibition
7. › Whether miscarriage of justice occasioned
8. › Whether standard judicial direction on right to silence cured the breach
9. › Evidence Act 1906 (WA), s 8(1)(c)
1. Criminal Law
2. › Appeal
3. › Miscarriage of justice
4. › Prosecutorial comment on accused's silence
5. › Whether proviso applicable
6. › Whether retrial should be ordered
1. Criminal Law
2. › Indictment
3. › Circumstance of aggravation
4. › Whether circumstance of aggravation could be established where statutory provision not in force during pleaded date range
5. › Criminal Code (WA), s 317(1)

Quick Take

Prosecutors must avoid any comment, whether express or implied, on the accused's failure to give evidence, including comments that link the accused's silence to the credibility of defence witnesses; a standard direction on the right to silence will not cure a serious breach.

Case Details

Citation[2026] WASCA 22

CourtWASCA

JurisdictionWestern Australia

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Relies on2

2012Aje v The State of Western AustraliaWASCA 185
1907Bataillard v RHCA 17

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