Wilmot was charged with a series of six predatory rapes, committed by picking up women, some prostitutes, in one or other of two cars. The court considered the cross admissibility of similar fact evidence.
Held: Glidewell LJ said: ‘It has been suggested sometimes that such evidence can never be admissible in relation to the defence of consent which, as I have made clear, was the main issue which the jury in this case largely had to decide. But that is not right. Such evidence may be germane to a defence of consent – it will not always be by any means – but there are circumstances in which, where it is proved or admitted that a man has had sexual intercourse with a number of young women, the question whether it is proved that one of them did not consent may in part be answered by proving that another of the women did not consent if the circumstances bear a striking resemblance.’ However, Sambasivam was applied to make the evidence inadmissible.
Judges:
Glidewell LJ
Citations:
(1989) 89 Cr App R 341
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Citing:
Applied – Sambasivam v Director of Public Prosecutions, Federation of Malaya PC 1950
(Malaya) The effect of a verdict of acquittal pronounced by a competent court after a lawful trial is not restricted to the fact that the person acquitted cannot be tried again for the same offence. It is binding and conclusive in all subsequent . .
Cited by:
Cited – Regina v Z (Prior acquittal) HL 22-Jun-2000
The defendant on a charge of rape had been tried and acquitted of the rape of different women on three previous occasions in three separate trials. The prosecution wished to call those three complainants to give similar fact evidence in support of . .
Cited – Seaton v Regina CACD 13-Aug-2010
The defendant had been accused of recent fabrication of evidence, having given evidence in court which varied from that given in interview on arrest. The crown had commented on his failure to call his solicitor to give evidence. The defendant said . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Criminal Evidence
Updated: 07 May 2022; Ref: scu.237471