View source for Misapprehension of Evidence

[[fr:Mauvaise_compréhension_de_la_preuve]]
{{Currency2|June|2021}}
{{LevelZero}}{{HeaderAppeals}}
==General Principles==
{{seealso|Appeal on Miscarriage of Justice|Appeal of an Error of Law}}

On a judge-alone trial, an appeal on the misapprehension of evidence refers to one of three failures on the part of the trial judge in a judge-alone trial:<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Morrissey|6jtj|1995 CanLII 3498 (ON CA)|97 CCC (3d) 193}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}}{{atL|6jtj|83}} (misapprehension is the "failure to consider evidence relevant to a material issue, a mistake as to the substance of the evidence, or a failure to give proper effect to the evidence."<br>
{{CanLIIRP|MacIsaac|fx4jn|2013 NLCA 26 (CanLII)|335 Nfld & PEIR 199}}{{perNLCA|Rowe JA}}{{atsL|fx4jn|16| to 18}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Stennett|jfkn4|2021 ONCA 258 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA-H|Watt JA}}{{atL|jfkn4|50}}
</ref>
* a "failure to consider evidence relevant to a material issue";
* a "mistake as to the substance of the evidence"; or 
* a "failure to give proper effect to the evidence".

Not every misapprehension of evidence will be a reversable error.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Butler|fx8hl|2013 ONSC 2403 (CanLII)|44 MVR (6th) 281}}{{perONSC|Durno J}}{{atL|fx8hl|63}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Vant|gjrjd|2015 ONCA 481 (CanLII)|324 CCC (3d) 109}}{{perONCA-H|Watt JA}}{{atL|gjrjd|108}}<br>
</ref>
The error must result in an unreasonable verdict, an incurable error in law or a miscarriage of justice.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|GG|231v0|1995 CanLII 8922 (ON CA)|97 CCC (3d) 362}}{{perONCA|Laskin JA}}{{atL|231v0|59}}<br>
{{supra1|Morrissey}}<br>
See s. 686(1)(a)(iii) regarding defence appeals on miscarriages<br>
</ref>

The reversible error must:<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Lohrer|1jx8r|2004 SCC 80 (CanLII)|[2004] 3 SCR 732}}{{perSCC-H|Binnie J}}{{atsL|1jx8r|1| to 4}} ("The misapprehension of the evidence must go to the substance rather than to the detail. It must be material rather than peripheral to the reasoning of the trial judge.")<br> 
</ref>
* "go to the substance" of the case and cannot simply be a "detail"; 
* It must be "material" and not "peripheral" to the reasoning of the case;
* the error must "play an essential part in the reasoning process", and not simply be narrative.

The consideration of whether the misapprehension affected the verdict must be made "in light of the fundamental principle that a verdict be based exclusively on the evidence adduced at trial."<ref>
{{supra1|Vant}}{{atL|gjrjd|108}}<br>
{{supra1|Morrissey}}{{atL|6jtj|93}}
</ref>

; Recommended Analysis
The first step in the analysis must be to consider the "reasonableness of the verdict". If it is unreasonable, the accused is entitled to an acquittal.<ref>
{{supra1|Vant}}{{atL|gjrjd|109}}<br>
{{supra1|Stennett}}{{atL|jfkn4|51}} ("...the reviewing court considers first the reasonableness of the verdict rendered by the trier of fact. If the verdict is not unreasonable, then the reviewing court must decide whether the misapprehension of evidence caused a miscarriage of justice. If the appellant fails on this ground as well, the court must inquire whether the misapprehension amounted to an error of law, and if so, whether that error occasioned the appellant a substantial wrong or miscarriage of justice: ...")
</ref> 
If the verdict is not unreasonable, the next step is to determine whether there was a "miscarriage of justice" which would entitle the accused to a quashed verdict and a new trial.<ref>
{{supra1|Vant}}{{atL|gjrjd|109}}<br>
{{supra1|Stennett}}{{atL|jfkn4|51}} 
</ref> 
Finally, if there is no miscarriage of justice the final step is to determine whether the misapprehension amounted to an error of law, which, if proven, places a burden on the Crown to establish that there was no miscarriage of justice warranting a new trial.<ref>
{{supra1|Vant}}{{atL|gjrjd|109}}<br>
{{supra1|Stennett}}{{atL|jfkn4|51}} 
</ref>

The test requires re-examination of the evidence which includes some degree fo reweighing and considering the effect of evidence.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Lemaigre|gv4ms|2016 SKCA 132 (CanLII)}}{{perSKCA|Caldwell JA}}{{atL|gv4ms|21}}
</ref> 

It is insufficient to rely on "vague unease, or a lingering or lurking doubt."<ref>
{{ibid1|Lemaigre}}{{AtL|gv4ms|21}}
</reF>

; Interpretation
The appellant cannot simply “cherry pick” incorrect sentences without considering the full context.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Davis|1fql7|1999 CanLII 638 (SCC)|[1999] 3 SCR 759}}{{perSCC|Lamer CJ}}{{atL|1fql7|103}} (“It is not sufficient to “cherry pick” certain infelicitous phrases or sentences without enquiring as to whether the literal meaning was effectively neutralized by other passages”)
</ref>

The reasons must be read "as a whole", in the context of the evidence, the issues and arguments a trial, and the purposes and functions of the reasons.<REf>
{{CanLIIR|GC|js4lw|2022 ONCA 678 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtONCA}}{{atL|js4lw|14}}
</ref>

; Magnitude of Error
Appeal for misapprehension of evidence requires that the error be must be "material, not peripheral, to the reasoning of the trial judge" and must "play an essential part in the reasoning process resulting in a conviction".
<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Lee|27scf|2010 ABCA 1 (CanLII)|23 Alta LR (5th) 76}}{{TheCourt}} (2:1){{atsL|27scf|8| to 9}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Loher|1jx8r|2004 SCC 80 (CanLII)|[2004] 3 SCR 732}}{{perSCC-H|Binnie J}}{{atsL|1jx8r|1|, 2}}<br> 
{{CanLIIRP|Morrissey|6jtj|1995 CanLII 3498 (ON CA)|97 CCC (3d) 218}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}}{{atsL|6jtj|218| and 221}} <br> 
see {{CanLIIRx|Izzard|fzqt1|2013 NSCA 88 (CanLII)}}{{perNSCA|Beveridge JA}}<br>
{{supra1|Butler}}{{atL|fx8hl|63}}<br>
</ref>

A failure to give the evidence the meaning urged by counsel does not amount to a misapprehension.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|DB|fr7tf|2012 ONCA 301 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}}<br>
{{supra1|Butler}}{{atL|fx8hl|63}}</ref>

An allegation that the trial judge merely interpreted the evidence differently from a party does not amount to a misapprehension.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Lee|2d8r7|2010 SCC 52 (CanLII)|[2010] 3 SCR 99}}{{TheCourtSCC}}{{atL|2d8r7|4}}<br>
</ref>

; Biniaris Test vs Lohrer Test
The Biniaris Test related to the reasonableness of a verdict. <ref>see [[Unreasonable Verdict]]</ref>
The differences between the two tests are that:<ref>
{{supra1|Movchan}}{{atL|gs07f|24}}<br>
</ref>
* the "Lohrer test applies when the attack is on a discrete finding of fact and it appears the conclusion of the trial judge on that fact is unsupported by any evidence, or perhaps that it is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence on that point";
* the Biniaris test "applies when the attack is on the overall strength of the case, and not any discrete finding of fact that is said to be plainly inconsistent with the uncontradicted evidence".

{{reflist|2}}

==Overall Strength Test (Biniaris Unreasonable Verdict Test)==
{{seealso|Unreasonable Verdict}}

==Central Element Test (Lohrer Miscarriage of Justice test)==
It is an error of law for a trial judge to fail to consider the totality of the evidence.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Lohrer|1jx8r|2004 SCC 80 (CanLII)|[2004] 3 SCR 732}}{{perSCC-H|Binnie J}}
</ref>
The failure must have "played an essential part, not just in the narrative of the judgment, but in the reasoning process resulting in the conviction."<ref>
{{ibid1|Lohrer}}{{atL|1jx8r|2}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Movchan|gs07f|2016 ABQB 317 (CanLII)|39 Alta LR (6th) 347}}{{perABQB|Yungwirth J}}{{atsL|gs07f|22| to 25}}
</ref>
This is grounds of appeal relates to the misapprehension of evidence.

The Lohrer test arises from an expansion of the misapprehension analysis beyond application of power s. 686(1)(a)(i) and to expand the analysis to apply s. 686(1)(a)(iii) power for miscarriage of justice.<REf>
{{CanLIIRx|Lemaigre|gv4ms|2016 SKCA 132 (CanLII)}}{{perSKCA| JA}}{{atL|gv4ms|22}} ("...in R v Lohrer, ... the Supreme Court has recognised, in the circumstances of a case such as this one, that an appellate court may go beyond its power under s. 686(1)(a)(i) to exercise its power under s. 686(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code where the appellate court concludes that there has been a misapprehension of the evidence requiring a new trial.")
</ref>

The Lohrer test was also articulated as follows:<Ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Kaemmer|hzzf1|2019 BCCA 136 (CanLII)}}{{perBCCA|Hunter JA}}{{AtL|jdzlb|28}}<br>
see also {{CanLIIRx|Wei|gpj9f|2016 BCCA 75 (CanLII)}}{{perBCCA|Fenlon JA}}
</ref>
# a misapprehension of the evidence will only vitiate a conviction if the error was a central element of the judge’s reasoning on which the conviction is based; and
# the means of determining whether the error was a central element of the judge’s reasoning is to consider whether striking it from the judgment would leave the trial judge’s reasoning on unsteady ground.

; "Unfair Trial" analysis
The misapprehension may reverse the verdict where the misapprehension renders the trial unfair, resulting in a miscarriage.<ref>
{{supra1|Stennett}}{{atL|jfkn4|52}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Gauthier|jf76n|2021 ONCA 216 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA|Harvison Young JA}}{{atL|jf76n|53}}<Br>
</ref>
Reviewing courts look at "the nature and extent of the misapprehension and its significance to the verdict rendered at trial". If the error plays "an essential part" in the reasons then it will constitute a miscarriage.<ref>
{{supra1|Stennett}}{{atL|jfkn4|52}} 
</ref>
The unfair trial analysis is a "stringent standard."<Ref>
{{supra1|Stennett}}{{atL|jfkn4|52}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Khan|gf8nx|2014 ONCA 795 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtONCA}}
</ref>

The misapprehension is not a miscarriage where it goes to "the detail" of the evidence (as opposed to the substance) and is not simply part of the narrative of the judgement.<ref>
{{supra1|Gauthier}}{{atL|jf76n|54}} ("...the misapprehension must go to the substance, rather than the detail, of the evidence and that the error must play an essential part in not just the narrative of the judgment but in the reasoning process resulting in a conviction.")
</ref>
The misapprehension cannot be peripheral.<Ref>
{{CanLIIRxC|McGuinty v 1845035 Ontario Inc. (McGuinty Funeral Home)|jc7pg|2020 ONCA 816 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA|Hushcroft JA}} at para 39
</reF>

The error is one where if it was struck from the judgement would leave the reasoning on "unsteady grounds."<ref>
Sinclair, 2011 SCC 40 (CanLII), [2011] 3 SCR 3, at para. 56, Lebel J<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Hemsworth|gn4lg|2016 ONCA 85 (CanLII)|334 CCC (3d) 534}}{{perONCA-H|Epstein JA}}{{AtL|gn3lg|40}}
</ref>
It must be a "central element" to the trial judge's reasoning.<Ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Marshall|h6pqj|2017 ONCA 801 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA-H|Epstein JA}}{{AtL|h6pqj|55}}
</ref>

{{Reflist|2}}

==Consequence of Misapprehension Findings==
Where there is a finding of a reversible misapprehension of evidence it does not matter whether the rest of the evidence could support a conviction. The error "amounts to an unfair trial" and requires quashing of the conviction.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Barber|htkjp|2018 ONSC 4940 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Andre J}}{{atL|htkjp|17}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Lohrer|1jx8r|2004 SCC 80 (CanLII)|[2004] 3 SCR 732}}{{perSCC-H|Binnie J}}{{atL|1jx8r|1}}<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==See Also==
* [[Unreasonable Verdict]]
* [[Appeal on Miscarriage of Justice]]
* [[Appeal of an Error of Law]]