C.T.M. v The Queen

In C.T.M. v The Queen, the High Court of Australia considered an appeal by the applicant, C.T.M., against a conviction for a sexual offence. The dispute concerned the admissibility of certain evidence during the trial.

The central legal issue before the High Court was whether the trial judge had erred in admitting evidence of the applicant's prior sexual misconduct. Specifically, the court had to determine if this evidence was relevant to proving the applicant's propensity to commit the offence charged, and if its probative value outweighed its prejudicial effect.

The High Court analysed the principles governing the admission of evidence of prior misconduct, particularly under the *Uniform Evidence Law*. Their Honours applied the reasoning from established authorities, emphasising that such evidence is generally inadmissible if its sole purpose is to demonstrate a propensity to commit the offence. The court found that the evidence in question was not admissible for that purpose and that its admission was an error.

The High Court allowed the appeal, quashed the conviction, and ordered a new trial.