The Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) has dismissed the appeal in R v Stevenson, 2024 SCC 41 [Stevenson], upholding a trial judge’s decision to convict based on the evidence of an unsavoury or Vetrovec witness. This case was heard by the SCC as of right from the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal (“SKCA”) 2024 SKCA 40 […]
The Ontario Court of Appeal (“Court of Appeal”) decision in R v Magno, 2015 ONCA 111 [Magno], affirmed the law surrounding judges’ Vetrovec warnings in cases where co-conspirators serve as both witnesses against an accused and as independent corroboration for one another’s testimony. The appellant (“Magno”) appealed from trial convictions on charges of conspiracy, arson […]
Last Thursday, the Supreme Court released its rulings on R v Khela, 2009 SCC 4 [Khela], and R v Smith, 2009 SCC 5 [Smith], two companion cases involving allegations of first-degree murder. In both proceedings, the Crown’s case relied on the testimony of witnesses who had a motive to lie and who were therefore considered unsavoury. As […]