Citation

Mills S, Sharman SJ. Psychiatry Psychol. Law. 2018; 25(6): 944-956.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Law, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13218719.2018.1482572

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Child sexual abuse (CSA) trials may feature evidence relating to behaviours beyond the charges laid. This 'other misconduct' evidence can add context to the offending and may relate to more than one complaint or victim, indicating a pattern of thinking and behaviour, or that multiple incidents are unlikely to be coincidental. Directions to the jury regarding such evidence are complex and error prone, giving grounds for appeal. This study investigates successful appeals against conviction based on other misconduct evidence by analysing child and adult sexual assault cases listed in the Supreme Court of Appeal (Victoria) between 2004 and 2014. The appeals were equally successful in child and adult cases and equally likely to result in retrial. Specific errors in directions were identified and explanations are presented. Jury directions continue to be a source of error in sexual assault trials and can result in further attrition from the criminal justice system.

Language: en

Keywords

appeal; child sexual abuse; context evidence; other misconduct evidence; tendency evidence; uncharged acts