New Zealand Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

New Zealand Case Law

Relationship evidence vs propensity
  • 4 Nov 2015

    R v BEAZLEY [2015] NZHC 2723

    Citation
    [2015] NZHC 2723
    Court
    High Court

    Portions of Ms White's statement that recount prior incidents of violence between the defendant and the deceased which she personally witnessed are admissible as relationship evidence (not propensity) to provide necessary background and context, and limited evidence regarding alcohol/drug use is admissible; other parts of the statement (violence during upbringing, deceased's violence towards others, gang affiliations, incidents not personally witnessed by Ms White) are inadmissible as irrelevant or unduly prejudicial; one passage regarding legal highs reserved for later determination.