View source for Credibility of Complainants or Victims

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==General Principles==
{{seealso|Analyzing Testimony}}

A judge in his decision evaluating the credibility of a complainant must consider the evidence in its whole context and address any internal contradictions. He cannot ignore evidence that goes against the conclusion.<ref>
R v G., W., [http://canlii.ca/t/1f9l4 1999 CanLII 3125] (ON CA) at 13,14, 17-19<br>
R v D.A., [http://canlii.ca/t/fqrrw 2012 ONCA 200] (CanLII)<br>
</ref>

The fact that The complainant "pursues a complaint" cannot be used to support credibility without having the effect of reversing the onus of proof.<ref>
R v M.Q., [http://canlii.ca/t/27skb 2010 ONSC 61] (CanLII), per Hill J.
</ref>

Evidence of the overall relationship with a domestic partner may be knitted "to establish the true and complete nature of the couple's relationship in so far as it is reasonably capable of setting forth the contextual narrative in the course of which the events or said to of occurred" or where it can establish motive or animus of the accused or where it where it is relevant to explain failure to report.The judge must weigh the probative value against the prejudicial effect.<ref>
MQ{{ibid}}</ref>

Prior consistent statements can be useful in admissible for narrative. They may be a central "to understand the unfolding events, for example, eliminating gaps or explaining why soda was done to terminate the abuse or to bring the alleged perpetrator to justice". It may also supposed to "understand how and when I complain it's story came to be disclosed".<ref>
MQ{{ibid}}<br>
see also [[Prior Consistent Statements]]
</ref>

'''Post Offence Demeanour'''<br>
There is no hard and fast rule about how a victim will react after a traumatic event such as a sexual assault.<reF>
R v DD, [http://canlii.ca/t/525r 2000 SCC 43] (CanLII), [2000] 2 S.C.R. 275 at para. 65<br>
R v JA, [http://canlii.ca/t/2bj83 2010 ONCA 491] (CanLII), 261 C.C.C. (3d) 125, at para. 17<Br>
</ref>

'''Delayed or Recent Complaint'''<br>
The relevancy of a delayed complaint is "contextual and will vary from case to case".<ref>
MQ{{ibid}}</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Credibility in Sexual Assault-related Offences==

'''Timeliness of Complaint'''<br>
The doctrine of recent complaint in sexual assault cases does not exist in Canada. A failure to make a timely complaint in a sexual assault or abuse cannot be used to make an adverse inference of credibility.<Ref>R v D.D., [http://canlii.ca/t/525r 2000 SCC 43] (CanLII) per Major J</ref>

{{quotation|
275. The rules relating to evidence of recent complaint are hereby abrogated with respect to offences under sections 151, 152, 153, 153.1, 155 and 159, subsections 160(2) and (3) and sections 170, 171, 172, 173, 271, 272 and 273.
<br>
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 275; R.S., 1985, c. 19 (3rd Supp.), s. 11; 2002, c. 13, s. 12.
|[http://canlii.ca/t/7vf2#sec275 CCC]
}}

Those offences listed in s. 275 consist of:
* [[Sexual Interference (Offence)|Sexual Interference]] (151)
* [[Invitation to Sexual Touching (Offence)|Invitation to Sexual Touching]] (152)
* [[Sexual Exploitation (Offence)|Sexual Exploitation]] (153 or 153.1)
* [[Incest (Offence)| Incest]] (155)
* [[Anal Intercourse (Offence)|Anal Intercourse]] (159)
* [[Bestiality (Offence)|Bestiality]] (160(2) or (3))
* [[Parent or Guardian Procuring Sexual Activity (Offence)|Parent or guardian procuring sexual activity]] (170)
* [[Householder Permitting Sexual Activity (Offence)|Householder permitting sexual activity]] (171)
* [[Miscellaneous Sexual Offences|Corrupting Children]] (172)
* [[Indecent Act (Offence)|Indecent Acts]] (173)
* [[Sexual Assault (Offence)|Sexual Assault]] (271)
* [[Sexual Assault with a Weapon or Causing Bodily Harm (Offence)|Sexual Assault with a Weapon]] (272)
* [[Sexual Assault with a Weapon or Causing Bodily Harm (Offence)|Sexual Assault Causing Bodily Harm]] (272)
* [[Aggravated Sexual Assault (Offence)|Aggravated Sexual Assault]] (273)

Late disclosure, by itself, cannot allow an adverse inference against the complainant in a sexual assault case.<ref>
R v DD{{supra}} at para 63, 65<br>
</ref>

However, the court may use evidence of the making of the compliant as "narrative evidence for the permissible purpose of showing the fact and timing of a complaint, which may then assist the trier of fact in the assessment of truthfulness or credibility.”<ref>
R v Dinardo, [http://canlii.ca/t/1wtt2 2008 SCC 24] (CanLII), [2008] 1 SCR 788 at para 37
</ref> These statements cannot be used in “confirming the truthfulness of the sworn allegations”.<ref>
R v Dinardo, at para 37<br>
see R v GC, [2006] O.J. No. 2245 (C.A.)<br> 
R v Fair [http://canlii.ca/t/1npp3 1993 CanLII 3384] (ON CA), (1993), 16 O.R. (3d) 1 (C.A.) at para 21</ref>

'''Behaviour of Victim'''<br>
In sexual assault cases, it has been stated that a strict analysis of the reasonableness of the complainant's actions as "reactive human behaviour is variable and unpredictable"
and  there is the risk of "stereotypical thinking as to how a female complainant should react in a given scenario".<Ref>
R v Lally, [http://canlii.ca/t/frw0l 2012 ONCJ 397] (CanLII) at 105 to 113</ref>

There is no "no inviolable rule on how people who are the victims of trauma like sexual assault will behave".<ref>
DD{{supra}} at para 65<br>
</ref>

'''Post-Offence Demeanour and Conduct in Sexual Offences'''<Br>
Post-event demeanour of a sexual assault victim can be used as circumstantial evidence to corroborate the complainant's version of events.<ref>
R v JJA, [http://canlii.ca/t/fkxnn 2011 SCC 17] (CanLII), [2011] 1 S.C.R. 628, at paras. 40-41<br> 
R v Mugabo, [http://canlii.ca/t/h39fv 2017 ONCA 323] (CanLII), per Gillese JA, at para 25 ("It has long been held that post-event demeanour of a sexual assault victim can be used as circumstantial evidence to corroborate the complainant’s version of events")<br>
</ref>
This can include evidence such as:
* complainant’s willingness to undergo the invasive sexual assault examination;<ref>Mugabo{{ibid}} at para 25<br></ref>
* complainant’s demeanour immediately after the assault<ref>Mugabo{{ibid}} at para 25<br></ref>


{{reflist|2}}