Disclosing Convictions in Court

My wife is a barrister and I have only seen her in Court once.

Many years ago, she was prosecuting and the jury returned and asked the Judge if they could know the defendant’s previous convictions. The Judge went ballistic in a very judicial way and left everyone in his Court with the view, that disclosing the convictions would prejudice the defence.

These days, where there is a lot of trial by media, it is all the more important that they are not disclosed. Except of course where the method of crime is so unusual as to be evidence in it’s own right. But then in these circumstances, it can be disclosed now!