Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Evidence Act 2008 - SECT 110

Evidence about character of an accused

110. Evidence about character of an accused





(1) The hearsay rule, the opinion rule, the tendency rule and the credibility
rule do not apply to evidence adduced by an accused to prove (directly or by
implication) that the accused is, either generally or in a particular respect,
a person of good character.

(2) If evidence adduced to prove (directly or by implication) that an accused
is generally a person of good character has been admitted, the hearsay rule,
the opinion rule, the tendency rule and the credibility rule do not apply to
evidence adduced to prove (directly or by implication) that the accused is not
generally a person of good character.

(3) If evidence adduced to prove (directly or by implication) that an accused
is a person of good character in a particular respect has been admitted, the
hearsay rule, the opinion rule, the tendency rule and the credibility rule do
not apply to evidence adduced to prove (directly or by implication) that the
accused is not a person of good character in that respect.

Note The Commonwealth Act previously included an additional subsection
relating to unsworn statements.