Demonstrative Evidence

From Criminal Law Notebook
This page was last substantively updated or reviewed December 2022. (Rev. # 95449)

General Principles

Demonstrative evidence includes charts, models, and experiments. They are used as tools to assist the judge in their understanding the of case. They are not "real evidence" is the strictest meaning as they are not objects that form part of the incident.

Demonstrative evidence is also called "illustrative evidence"[1]

The courts are entitled through their gatekeeping function to assess whether to admit demonstrative evidence or other aids to assist fact-finding.[2]

With demonstrative evidence, there is no need for formal authentication. Instead, the only standard is that of whether the evidence is relevant and whether it is an accurate representation of what it is supposed to depict. The primary consideration of the court is whether the item can assist the court or whether it warps or distorts the fact-finding process.[3]

Demonstrative evidence is frequently excluded where it has too great a prejudicial effect by creating "emotional responses such as pity, revulsion, or contempt."[4]

  1. ↑ McWilliams' Canadian Criminal Evidence (Hill, Tanovich & Strezos) at 23:30.10
  2. ↑ R v Kebede, 2022 ABCA 353 (CanLII) (working hyperlinks pending), per curiam, at para 73
    R v Boulachanis, 2020 QCCA 4 at paras 76-81(complete citation pending)
  3. ↑ Delisle, Stuart, Tanovich, "Evidence: Principles and Problems" 7th Ed., at p. 301
  4. ↑ see R v MacDonald, 2000 CanLII 16799 (ON CA), 146 CCC (3d) 525, per curiam, at para 37

Experiments and Re-Enactments

Experimental evidence is a procedure to confirm a hypothesis or demonstrate a known fact.[1] It is admissible as demonstrative evidence.

Where the experimental evidence is relevant and materials it will tend to be admitted, unless the discretionary exclusion rule is applied.[2]

Experimental evidence "is often, and at times routinely, admitted at trials."[3]

If the evidence requires inferences using special knowledge, the adducing party will need to admit it as expert evidence.[4]

The courts generally are very cautious about allowing demonstrative evidence in the form of in-court experiments as the environment of a court does not allow for a good duplication of the events at issue.[5] This includes video re-enactment performed by officers.[6]

As a general rule, the relevancy and admissibility will depend on the degree of accuracy the recreation is to the original event.[7]

Experiments in more controlled situations are more likely to be admitted. A ballistics expert who takes a firearm used in an alleged shooting can be permitted to perform tests on the weapon to determine its accuracy.[8]

Anytime that experiments are admitted before a jury, limiting instructions should be given.[9]

  1. ↑ R v Violette, [2009] B.C.J. No 1897 (S.C.)(*no CanLII links) , at para. 32 ("a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact").
  2. ↑ R v Collins, 2001 CanLII 24124 (ON CA), 160 CCC (3d) 85, per Charron J, at para 21
    R v Cyr, 2012 ONCA 919 (CanLII), 294 CCC (3d) 421, per Watt J, at para 119
  3. ↑ R v Collins, 2001 CanLII 24124 (ON CA), 160 CCC (3d) 85, per Charron JA
  4. ↑ Cyr, ibid., at para 119
  5. ↑ See R v Howard and Trudel, 1983 CanLII 3507 (ON CA), 3 CCC (3d) 399, per Howland CJ - Judge refused demo
  6. ↑ R v MacDonald, 2000 CanLII 16799 (ON CA), 146 CCC (3d) 525, per curiam - video of police re-enacting struggle denied
    R v Nikitin, 2003 CanLII 18062 , per MacPherson JA - video of school bus crossing re-enactment permitted
  7. ↑ Cyr, supra, at para 120
    Collins, supra, at para 22
    Nikitin, supra, at para 14
  8. ↑ Collins, supra
  9. ↑ Cyr, supra, at para 121
    Nikitin, supra, at para 15

Slideshows

A PowerPoint slideshow summarizing text messages is not to be put into evidence. Rather it is a illustrative tool of evidence already in evidence.[1]

Demonstrative aids are not meant to be "tools for advocacy or to paint a picture of one party's position."[2]

  1. ↑ R v Pan, 2014 ONSC 6055 (CanLII), per Boswell J
  2. ↑ R v Kanagasivam, 2016 ONSC 2250 (CanLII), per Fairburn J, at para 49

Summaries and Charts

See also: Traditional Exceptions to Hearsay

Summary of evidence into a chart or table can assist the judge "in understanding the entire picture represented by voluminous documentary evidence."[1]

Compendiums are not "anathema to the law."[2]

Where the jury are given a copy of a chart it is important that the judge give instructions that the charts are not evidence and are merely aids.[3]

Summaries should be verified for correctness either by inspection or through cross-examination of the maker.[4]

Generally, summaries should be based on admitted evidence.[5]

  1. ↑ R v Moman, 2011 MBCA 34 (CanLII), 268 Man R (2d) 10, per M Monnin JA, at paras 30 to 32
  2. ↑ R v Kebede, 2022 ABCA 353 (CanLII) (working hyperlinks pending), at para 73
    R v Monkhouse (1987), 1987 ABCA 227 (CanLII), 61 CR (3d) 343 at 347-348, [1988] 1 WWR 725 (Alta CA)(complete citation pending)
    R v Choudhary, 2009 ABCA 35 at para 8(complete citation pending)
    R v Crate, 2012 ABCA 144 at para 15
    R v Ajise, 2018 ONCA 494 at paras 21-24, aff’d 2018 SCC 51
  3. ↑ R v Bengert, 1980 CanLII 321 (BC CA), 53 CCC (2d) 481, per curiam
  4. ↑ R v Scheel, 1978 CanLII 2414 (ON CA), 42 CCC (2d) 31, per Martin JA, at pp. 35-36 citing Wigmore
  5. ↑ Scheel, ibid.

Animations

Comptuer animations depicting moving objects can be of great assistance. However, since it can overwhelm the testimony that it attempts to assist, it must be treated as "re-enactment" evidence.[1]

  1. ↑ R v Suzack, [1995] OJ No 4237 (Ont. Gen. Div.)(*no CanLII links) - animation showing bullet trajectory

Views

A “view” is where the trier-of-fact, be it judge or jury, is permitted to attend the location of an event at issue in trial to better understand the evidence. The view may be requested by either party or on the judge’s motion under s. 652:

View

652 (1) The judge may, where it appears to be in the interests of justice, at any time after the jury has been sworn and before it gives its verdict, direct the jury to have a view of any place, thing or person, and shall give directions respecting the manner in which, and the persons by whom, the place, thing or person shall be shown to the jury, and may for that purpose adjourn the trial.

Directions to prevent communication

(2) Where a view is ordered under subsection (1), the judge shall give any directions that he considers necessary for the purpose of preventing undue communication by any person with members of the jury, but failure to comply with any directions given under this subsection does not affect the validity of the proceedings.

Who shall attend

(3) Where a view is ordered under subsection (1), the accused and the judge shall attend.
R.S., c. C-34, s. 579.

For a detailed review of law, see R v Polimac, 2006 CanLII 40110 (ON SC), OTC 1234, per Wein J

Some courts have taken the position that a view is not a form of evidence, but is merely an aid to understanding the evidence.[1]

Appellate Review

The decision to allow a view is a discretionary one and should not be interfered with unless it was "unreasonable."[2]

  1. ↑ R v Rideout, 1999 CanLII 18942 (NL CA), [1999] NJ No 294, per Roberts JA
    R v Stacey, 2016 CanLII 89811 (NLSCTD), per Handrigan J, at para 5
  2. ↑ R v Qhasimy, 2018 ABCA 228 (CanLII), per curiam, at para 15

"Interests of Justice"

The meaning of the phrase "interests of justice" changes depending on its context within the Code.[1]

The order is made where it “is in the interest of justice”. This requires that the viewing of the location add something to the evidence. While the viewing itself does not amount to evidence, it is intended to be an aid that helps facilitate an understanding of the evidence.[2]

Consequently, the view can be taken even after the close of evidence.[3]

The decision to allow a view is an exercise of discretion.[4]

  1. ↑ R v Stacey, 2016 CanLII 89811 (NLSCTD), per Handrigan J, at para 3
    R v Bernardo, 1997 CanLII 2240 (ON CA), 121 CCC (3d) 123, per Doherty JA, at p. 131
  2. ↑ R v Nasrallah, 2012 ONSC 2124 (CanLII), per Ray J
  3. ↑ R v Welsh, 1997 CanLII 2570 (BC CA), [1997] BCJ No 2343, per Finch JA
  4. ↑ R v Paradis, 1976 CanLII 1356 (QC CA), 38 CCC (2d) 455 (Q.C.A.), per Kaufman JA - refused a view while jury deliberating
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