Bias, Interest, and Corruption in Assessing Credibility
| This page was last substantively updated or reviewed January 2020. (Rev. # 95676) |
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General Principles
A witness can be questioned on their truthfulness due to bias or lack of impartiality. This includes questions that show hate, malice, affection or fear.[1] If the witness denies circumstances showing bias, then the party may call evidence to contradict it.[2]
Bias or interest only goes to credibility when the bias or interest can cause a witness to lie or exaggerate the truth to harm an opposing party or benefit their preferred party. Bias alone is not sufficient.[3]
Where a witness denies bias, it is permissible to call contradictory evidence to prove it.[4] However, if the defendant calls evidence to contradict a denial of bias, the crown has the right to call evidence to rehabilitate the witness.[5]
A witness can be asked about their communications with other witnesses before trial to suggest bias or interest.
- ↑ R v Bencardino, 1973 CanLII 804 (ON CA), 15 CCC (2d) 342, per Jessup JA
- ↑
R v Finnessey, 1906 CanLII 101 (ON CA), 10 CCC 347, per Osler JA
R v Lindlau, 1978 CanLII 2366, 40 CCC (2d) 47, per Martin JA
Attorney General v Hitchcock , [1847] 1 Ex. 91, 154 E.R. 38 (UK)
Finnessey, supra at pp. 351-2
R v S(A), 2002 CanLII 44934 (2002), 159 OAC 89, 165 CCC (3d) 426, per Feldman JA, at paras 28 to 32
R v Mohammed, (1991), 72 Man. R. (2d) 39 (Q.B.), aff’d , (1992), 83 Man. R. (2d) 162 (CA)(*no CanLII links)
R v Anderson v Harding (1985), 3 CPC (2d) 87 (Ont. Dist. Ct.)(*no CanLII links)
R v R(D), 1996 CanLII 207 (SCC), [1996] 2 SCR 291, per Major J, at para 43
R v McDonald, 2007 ABCA 53 (CanLII), 219 CCC (3d) 369, per curiam
- ↑ R v Creelman and Tupper (1893) 25 NSR 334 (CA)(*no CanLII links)
- ↑ R v McDonald, 1959 CanLII 25 (SCC), [1960] SCR 186, per Martland J
- ↑ R v Pargelen, 1996 CanLII 420 (ON CA), 112 CCC (3d) 263, per Rosenberg JA
Doctrine of Recent Complaints
The common law doctrine of recent complaints permits the judge to make an adverse finding against credibility.
Section 275 removes this doctrine for certain offences sex offences:
- Rules respecting recent complaint abrogated
275 The rules relating to evidence of recent complaint are hereby abrogated with respect to offences under sections 151 [sexual interference], 152 [invitation to sexual touching], 153 [sexual exploitation], 153.1 [sexual exploitation of disabled] and 155 [incest], subsections 160(2) [compelling bestiality] and (3) [bestiality in presence of or by child] and sections 170 [parent or guardian procuring sexual activity], 171 [householder permitting prohibited sexual activity], 172 [corrupting children], 173 [Indecent acts], 271 [sexual assault], 272 [sexual assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm] and 273 [aggravated sexual assault].
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 275; R.S., 1985, c. 19 (3rd Supp.), s. 11; 2002, c. 13, s. 12; 2019, c. 25, s. 99.
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