Collateral Evidence Flashcards
What is Collateral Evidence?
Collateral evidence is a fact that doesn’t have a reasonably direct bearing upon a fact in issue and doesn’t make the fact in issue more or less probable.
There is a general rule that collateral evidence is irrelevant and inadmissible. However there are a number of important exceptions.
Who decides that evidence is collateral or admissible?
The judge
What is similar fact evidence (SFE)?
“Similar fact evidence” (SFE) is a way of describing certain types of collateral evidence (nb its not an ‘official’ term in Scots law). Generally SFE is excluded in cases but there are some exceptions.
Example: If trying to establish whether X did act A, it is generally not relevant (and by extension generally not admissible) to show that he did something similar on a previous occasion.
Oswald v Fairs 1911 at 265
“The question being whether A said a certain thing to B, I do not think that it is relevant evidence upon that question – where there is controversy between A and B – to shew that A said something of the same sort upon another occasion to C. The question is what did A say to B, not what did he say to C, and the fact that he said the same sort of thing to C does not seem to me to prove that he said it to B”
What is the rule concerning SFE in civil cases?
The general rule is that SFE in civil cases in excluded.
A v B (1895)
action for damages for an alleged rape that had been perpetrated by the pursuer. In evidence the defender stated that the pursuer was of a brutal and licentious disposition and had on two occasions attempted to ravish two other women. The court held that these averments were irrelevant and had to be deleted from the record. [So this case just demonstrates that SFE is generally excluded].
Inglis v National Bank of Scotland 1909
civil action about the recovery of a sum of money which the pursuer claimed he had been defrauded into paying. He sought to put forward evidence of similar behaviour by the defender. The court held that these averments were irrelevant and their admission was refused. [Again this case demonstrates that SFE is generally excluded].
What are the exceptions to the rule that SFE in civil cases is excluded?
1) If the civil case involves the proof of adultery or
⁃ 2) proof of parenthood; similar fact evidence can be admitted if it supports the probability of acts (look up)
⁃ Also, previous facts which have a bearing on facts in issue are not collateral and are admissible (Knutzen v Mauritzen 1918)
Knutzen v Mauritzen 1918
Anonymous letters being sent to a husband and wife including a defamatory statement - the couple sued for defamation. The pursuers (the husband and wife) were allowed to lead evidence about similar letter that the defenders had sent to other people. The court held that this was not an exception to the rule against similar fact evidence because these fact actually have a bearing on this case since the earlier letters were relevant to determine if it was the same handwriting
Makin v AG for NSW [1894]
Makin involved in adverts to take care of unwanted children. 13 bodies of children were found on Makin’s property. Makin was charged with the murder of one of these infants. The court held that the general rule is that evidence tending to show that the accused has been involved in behaviour other than those in the particular indictment are inadmissible, however such evidence about previous criminal behaviour or convictions is admissible if it is relevant: it will be seen to be relevant if it has a bearing upon the issue as to whether the acts the accused is charged with are designed or accidental or if it is necessary to rebut a defence the accused is relying upon.
⁃ The Makin rule was by the Privy Council in an Australian case but it was accepted into Scots law in HMA v Joseph 1929.
HMA v Joseph 1929
Joseph charged with fraudulently obtaining money by means of counterfeit bank drafts. The indictment laid out all of these details but also charged Joseph with fraudulent activity in Belgium. The court held the incident in Belgium could not be the substance of a charge in Scotland but nonetheless the crime with which he was charged in Scotland and the incident in Belgium were sufficiently closely connected to admit of evidence relevant to that incident for the purpose of supporting the Scottish charges.
HMA v Flanders 1961
woman charged with murder by shooting her husband. Nothing in the indictment charging her with murder that made any reference to malice or ill-will. At the trial the Crown sought to examine a witness with regard to certain remarks made by the woman to her husband that showed ill-will 6 months prior to the shooting. The defence counsel objected on the ground that it would be prejudicial. Court held that the Crown could tender such evidence to show previous ill-will, however fair notice must be given to the accused and specific reference must be made in the indictment to the demonstration of previous ill-will. So the objection by the defence was sustained.
*Moorov v HMA 1930
Moorov charged with a series of assaults and sexual assaults alleged to have been committed in his business premises against various female employees. In the vast majority of these assaults and sexual assaults the only direct evidence was the evidence of that particular woman against whom the particular offence was alleged to have been committed (there was no independent corroboration.) Most of the alleged behaviour took place in a three year time-frame. The Court held that evidence about the other alleged behaviours could be admitted (i.e. deemed to be relevant as opposed to collateral) if there was a sufficient interrelation in time, place and circumstances[ All three dimensions must be satisfied.]. In relation to the indecent assaults the court held these three dimensions were satisfied so that the indecent assault evidence was admitted and was sufficient to corroborate one another.
Is evidence of character collateral?
The general rule in both civil and criminal cases is that evidence of character is collateral and thus inadmissible.
What are the exceptions to character evidence being inadmissible in civil cases?
While character evidence is normally inadmissible, there are a few exceptions:
⁃i) Character evidence is admissible when the character is necessarily an issue in those particular proceedings
(C v M 1923)
- Ii) Sometime character of pursuer is a fact in issue or is directly relevant to such a fact - if so then it is admissible. (Wallace v Mooney (1885))
C v M 1923
the pursuer was suing the defender for defamation claiming that he had falsely stated that she had given birth to an illegitimate child a decade earlier. The defender then sought to put forth evidence about acts of her adulterous character (character evidence). The court held that the averments relating to the acts of adultery were irrelevant but given that fair notice had been given to the pursuer of these specific acts, they could be put to her in cross-examination.
Wallace v Mooney (1885)
action of damages for assault and defamation. Evidence pertaining to the character of the pursuer, that he was a ‘resetter[ I.e. involved in the handling of stolen goods.]’. This evidence was held to be relevant and admissible - LOOK UP.
Whose character may be questioned in criminal cases?
This could be the accused, the complainer, witnesses.
When is evidence relating to the character of the complainer (victim) admissible?
⁃ Evidence relating to his character is admissible if it is relevant to the defence.
⁃ So the accused can attack the character of the complainer if notice has been given. e.g. an injured party in an assault: evidence could be led that he was of a quarrelsome disposition.
HM v Kay 1970
indictment which libelled that Kay murdered husband. She had previously evinced malice and ill-will against him (brandishing a knife against him threatening to kill him). She pleaded a special defence of self-defence on the basis she reasonably believed their was imminent danger to her own life due to an assault on her by her husband. In the course of the trial she sought to lead evidence of specific assaults on her by him (i.e. character evidence of the victim). The court held that normally it would undesirable to admit evidence on collateral matters in a criminal trial [The general rule.]. However, in the circumstances of this case the court held that evidence concerning these previous assaults should be admitted. The reason was that the Crown had put forth evidence that the wife had show ill-will and malice towards the husband and her defence was one of self defence due to malice by the husband; thus it would be unfair to allow detailed evidence from the Crown saying she evinced ill-will and malice without then allowing her the opportunity of proving by detailed evidence that she had reason to apprehend danger from the deceased.
Brady v HMA 1986
emphasises that if evidence about the general character of the complainer or victim is to be admitted, notice is required. Brady convicted in the High Court of attempted murder. Counsel for Brady sought to lead evidence perpetrated by the victim on third parties and on property prior to the instance (so Brady was arguing that the complainer had been involved in specific acts of violence in the past. The court recognised that the general rule was that specific acts committed by the complainer are not to be admitted and that although in special circumstances (like in Kay) the interests of justice will require departing from this rule, there was nothing in the circumstances of Brady that would require a departure from the standard rule.
What are the rules about admissibility of evidence when questioning a complainer in relation to sexual offences?
There are statutory provisions in the CP(S)A 1995 s 274-275 concerning the questioning of complainers in relation to sexual offences. This is an attempt to protect the complainer from being interrogated about their own sexual history etc by introducing ‘rape shield laws.’
⁃ s 274 places restrictions on the types of evidence that the complaining witness can be questioned about
⁃ s 275 provides exceptions to the rule in s 274.
⁃ s 275A …
⁃ s 274 (1):
⁃ Any sexual offences (Nb doesn’t include domestic abuse). The court shall not admit or allow questioning designed to elicit evidence which shows that the complainer: (a) is not of good character, (b) has at any time engaged in sexual behaviour not forming part of the subject matter of the charge, (c) has engaged in such behaviour that might found the inference that the complainer might have consented to those acts, or is not a credible or reliable witness[ In other words, excluding evidence that would say she is ‘the type of woman’ who would have consented to this or the type of woman who would lie.], (d) has at any time been subject to such condition or predisposition as might found the inference referred to in sub-paragraph (c) above.
⁃ s 275 (exception to restrictions under s 274):
⁃ This provision (s 275(1)) allows the court to admit such evidence as is referred to in s 274(1) if the court is satisfied:
⁃ (a) the evidence or questioning will relate only to a specific occurrence or occurrences of sexual or other behaviour or to specific facts demonstrating: (i) the complainer’s character; or (ii) any condition or predisposition to which the complainer is or has been subject.
⁃ (b) that occurrence or those occurrences of behaviour or facts are relevant to establishing whether the accused is guilty of the offence with which he is charged; and
⁃ (c) the probative value of the evidence sought to be admitted or elicited is significant and is likely to outweigh any risk of prejudice to the proper administration of justice arising from its being admitted or elicited.
⁃ s 275(2): “the proper administration of justice” includes: (i) appropriate protection of a complainer’s dignity and privacy[ This is a recognition that this type of questioning can be very personal etc.];
⁃ s 275(3): an application for the purposes of s 274(1) must be in writing (i.e. for sexual history / character evidence to be admitted there must be a written application.)
⁃ [There has been a study which found that almost all applications under s 275 to admit such evidence were successful- so the combination of s 274 and 275 don’t appear to be placing much of a barrier in terms of what evidence can be admitted.]
In which two cases was evidence excluded at trial under s 274 but on appeal was held to have been wrongly excluded?
Cumming and Kinnin
*Cumming v HMA 2003
⁃ C had been charged with lewd and libidinous practices against various girls including K and L. Evidence was excluded under s 274 and s 275 was not deemed to have been satisfied.
⁃ On appeal, C sought to have two pieces of evidence admitted. In relation to L, he sought to have evidence admitted about a social function where L had voluntarily sat on his lap following the alleged sexual incidents.
⁃ In relation to K, C sought to have evidence admitted about a situation where C had found K going through his pockets for money and previous instances where K had demanded money from him.
⁃ On appeal the court held that evidence relating to both of these scenario’s was relevant and ought to have been admitted under s 275. The case then got remitted back to the trial court and the evidence was admitted.
⁃ In relation to the evidence about L was relevant and had sufficient probative value and didn’t appear to involve any material prejudice to the proper administration of justice.
⁃ In relation to the evidence about K the court held that this was relevant to her credibility and to the likelihood of his guilty. Refusing the admission of this type of evidence could compromise the right to a fair trial of C, while offering no protection to the dignity of the two girls.