PM v The Queen

The High Court of Australia considered an appeal by PM against a decision of the Supreme Court of Queensland. The dispute concerned the admissibility of certain evidence in a criminal trial.

The central legal issue before the High Court was whether the trial judge had erred in admitting evidence of prior convictions and other potentially prejudicial material relating to the appellant, PM, during the trial. This involved an examination of the principles governing the admission of evidence that might tend to show a person has a propensity to commit certain offences.

The High Court held that the admission of the evidence was an error. Their Honours applied the principle that evidence of prior convictions or bad character is generally inadmissible unless it is relevant for a purpose other than to show a propensity to commit the offence charged. In this instance, the evidence was admitted in circumstances where its prejudicial effect outweighed its probative value, thereby denying the appellant a fair trial.

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