PART IIEVIDENCE OF BAD CHARACTER

Introductory

“Bad character”3

References in this Part to evidence of a person's “bad character” are to evidence of, or of a disposition towards, misconduct on his part, other than evidence which—

a

has to do with the alleged facts of the offence with which the defendant is charged, or

b

is evidence of misconduct in connection with the investigation or prosecution of that offence.

Abolition of common law rules4

1

The common law rules governing the admissibility of evidence of bad character in criminal proceedings are abolished.

2

Paragraph (1) is subject to Article 22(1) in so far as it preserves the rule under which in criminal proceedings a person's reputation is admissible for the purposes of proving his bad character.