ABSTRACT
There are three meanings that are attached to the expression ‘character’ in criminal proceedings. These are reputation, disposition, or either disposition or reputation evidence. Reputation evidence involves the general opinion of society concerning the witness. Indeed, the more popular the witness, the more likely that society will have an opinion of the witness. Disposition evidence involves specific incidents or separate acts of the witness, such as specific donations to charitable organisations, the previous convictions of the witness (including the accused) or background evidence. In other words, the expression means a tendency, propensity or inclination to do or omit from doing something connected to the proceedings.
