Witness credibility questions: courts control irrelevant character imputations, may warn witnesses, and may infer adverse answers from refusal.

The Court controls irrelevant character-based questions addressed to witnesses where they may affect credibility. It may decide whether a witness must answer and may warn that an answer is not required. Questions are proper only when the imputation would seriously affect credibility; they are improper when remote, of slight relevance, or disproportionate to the importance of the evidence. A refusal to answer may permit an inference that the answer would be unfavourable.

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