What are the general rules on credibility evidence under EAC 102?

The general rules on credibility evidence under the Evidence Act Queensland (EAC) 102 indicate that such evidence is generally inadmissible unless certain exceptions apply. This principle is rooted in the notion that the credibility of a witness is typically a matter for the court to assess based on the evidence presented, without introducing additional evidence that could bias the assessment.

In particular, the exceptions where credibility evidence may be admissible typically include situations where it is relevant to establishing a specific fact in the case or when it relates to the character of the witness where it directly impacts the reliability of their testimony. This emphasizes a careful balance between ensuring that the jury or judge evaluates a witness's credibility based on the merits of the evidence itself instead of extraneous information that may mislead or confuse.

Options suggesting that credibility evidence is always admissible or must include expert testimony do not align with the underlying principles of the Evidence Act as they propose a much broader scope of admissibility than actually exists. Similarly, indicating that such evidence is only admissible for character assessments would not encompass the specific contexts in which credibility might indeed be relevant and admissible. Thus, option B accurately reflects the framework provided by the Evidence Act regarding the limitations placed on the use of credibility evidence in legal proceedings.