This week's top three summaries: R v Charles, 2024 SCC 29: #principled exception, R v R.A., 2024 ONCA 696: #spontaneous utterance, and R v DPT, 2024 ABCA 299: cross-count #evidence R v Charles, 2024 SCC 29 [September 25, 2024] The Principled Exception to Hearsay [Majority Reasons by Moreau J. with Karakatsanis, Martin, and Jamal JJ. concurring]  AUTHOR’S NOTE by K. SITAR: This appeal turned on the admissibility of an out-of-court written statement provided by a Crown witness, KA. When called...

This week's top three summaries: R v Viau, 2024 ABCA 291: s271 #crying out, R v Stettner, 2024 SKCA 88: extrinsic #misconduct, and R v Brazil, 2024 ABKB 390: 11(b) #stay under 30. R v Viau, 2024 ABCA 291 [September 6, 2024] Sexual Assault: Myths and Crying Out for Help [Reasons by Jack Watson J.A. with Michelle Crighton and Jolaine Antonio JJ.A. concurring]  AUTHOR’S NOTE: In Canadian sexual assault trials, myths and stereotypes about complainants, such as the expectation that a victim would...

This week's top three summaries: R v CD, 2024 NLCA 22: self #defence force, R v Jenkins, 2024 ONCA 533: police lay #opinion, and R v Borhot, 2024 ABKB 438: reverse #closing submissions. R v CD, 2024 NLCA 22 [June 18, 2024] Self-Defence: Measuring Force to a Nicety Not Required [Reasons by F.J. Knickle J.A. with D.E Fry C.J.N.L. and D.M. Boone J.A. concurring]  AUTHOR’S NOTE: One of the key issues that led to a successful appeal in this case was the trial judge's failure to apply established...