In a criminal trial, the prosecution is presenting its case against the defendant, John, who is charged with assault. The prosecution alleges that John physically assaulted the victim during a confrontation at a local bar. As part of its case, the prosecution seeks to introduce evidence of John's prior convictions for assault. John's defence attorney objects to the admission of this evidence, arguing that it constitutes impermissible character evidence. Question: Discuss the principles governing the admissibility of character evidence in evidence law, particularly in the context of a criminal trial. Evaluate the relevance and potential prejudicial impact of John's prior convictions for assault on the current case. Analyse the exceptions to the general rule prohibiting the admission of character evidence and assess whether any of these exceptions apply to the present scenario. Finally, discuss the court's likely ruling on the admissibility of John's prior convictions and its potential impact on the outcome of the trial. (15 marks)