Admissions: Difference between revisions
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Guimond v The Queen, [1979] 1 SCR 960, [http://canlii.ca/t/1z77f 1979 CanLII 204]</ref> | Guimond v The Queen, [1979] 1 SCR 960, [http://canlii.ca/t/1z77f 1979 CanLII 204]</ref> | ||
{{reflist|2}} | |||
===Guilty Plea of Co-Accused=== | |||
A guilty plea of a co-accused or uncharged accomplice will usually no relevancy to the issue of guilt of the accused.<ref> | A guilty plea of a co-accused or uncharged accomplice will usually no relevancy to the issue of guilt of the accused.<ref> | ||
R v Berry, [http://canlii.ca/t/g191v 1957 CanLII 115] (ON CA), [1957] O.R. 249 (C.A.)<br> | R v Berry, [http://canlii.ca/t/g191v 1957 CanLII 115] (ON CA), [1957] O.R. 249 (C.A.)<br> | ||
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</ref>However, where it is permissible, such as for the purpose of credibility assessment, it should usually be accompanied by instructions warning of its use.<ref> | </ref>However, where it is permissible, such as for the purpose of credibility assessment, it should usually be accompanied by instructions warning of its use.<ref> | ||
Berry{{ibid}} at para 36<br> | Berry{{ibid}} at para 36<br> | ||
</ref> | |||
'''As Relevant to Credibility of Co-Accused'''<br> | |||
Where a co-accused testifies, the Crown may be able to tender evidence of the guilty plea as relevant the credibility of that witness.<Ref> | |||
R v Granados-Arana, [http://canlii.ca/t/hvhv4 2018 ONCA 826] (CanLII) | |||
</ref> | |||
'''Jury Instructions'''<br> | |||
Where evidence of an accomplice's guilty plea is tendered, there will ordinarily be a caution to the jury on its use. However, the failure to do so is not fatal absent prejudice to the accused.<Ref> | |||
R v MacGregor, MacGregor (1981), 1981 CanLII 3351 (ON CA), 64 C.C.C. (2d) 353 at p. 358, | |||
R. v. Simpson, 1988 CanLII 89 (SCC), [1988] 1 S.C.R. 3, at p. 19<br> | |||
Granados-Arana{{supra}}, per curiam, at para 7<Br> | |||
</ref> | </ref> | ||
Revision as of 13:43, 16 October 2018
General Principles
An admission is evidence presented in trial that consists of either a written or oral statement by the Accused admitting some fact made to a witness. This form of admission is a categorical exception to the hearsay rule of inadmissibility. This applies regardless of whether the admission is exculpatory or inculpatory. The main determiner for admissibility is the discretionary balance of probative value and prejudicial effect.[1]
An admission can be made by actions/conduct rather than simply words.[2] The most often seen example is post-offence conduct such as flight or demeanour at arrest.
- ↑
R v Hodgson, 1998 CanLII 798 (SCC), [1998] 2 SCR 449
R v Wells, 1998 CanLII 799 (SCC), [1998] 2 SCR 517
- ↑ eg. Hubin, 1927 CanLII 79 (SCC), [1927] SCR 442
Third Party Admissions
A third party admission is evidence given from a non-accused witness with respect to a statement given by the accused at some time in the past. The two main forms of third party admissions are adoptive admissions and vicarious admissions.
An adoptive admission is where the admission arises by the Accused's adoption of a 3rd party's statement. The adoption can be made by words, actions, or demeanour. The adoption is only to the extent the Accused accepts the statement by words, conduct or demeanour.[1]
This admission can apply where the accused makes a statement, action or is silent in the face of a criminal accusation. The weight depends on whether the accused had a duty to speak and was expected to say something. [2]
This does not apply where the accused fails to reply to accusations under caution.[3]
A vicarious admission is one where an admission of the Accused is relayed by a third party. The admission can be by words, actions, or demeanour. This form of admission is often taken from a co-conspirator of the Accused.
Statements that were made in the presence of the accused are not admissible unless the accused assents to them by words, conduct, action or demeanour.[4]
- ↑ R v Emele (1940), 1940 CanLII 203 (SK CA), 74 CCC 76 (SKCA)
- ↑ R v Sigmund (1968), 1 CCC 92 (BCCA)(*no CanLII links)
- ↑ R v Chambers, 1990 CanLII 47 (SCC), [1990] 2 SCR 1293
R v Cripps [1968] 3 CCC 323 (BCCA)(*no CanLII links) - ↑
R v Thomas, 2013 ONSC 1640 (CanLII) at para 11
R v Taggert [1999] O.J. No. 1273 (O.C.A.)(*no CanLII links) at para 8
R v Pleich, (1980) 55 CCC (2d) 13 (O.C.A.)(*no CanLII links) at para 68
R v Dubois, (1986) 27 CCC (3d) 325 (O.C.A.)(*no CanLII links) at para 47
Admissions to Undercover
An undercover officer posing as an inmate within a prison may only listen and not actively seek a confession.[1]
An undercover officer who is in contact with an accused out of custody, such as during a "Mr. Big" operation, may listen and activity attempt to elicit confessions.[2]
- ↑
R v Hebert, 1990 CanLII 118 (SCC), [1990] 2 SCR 151
R v Broyles, 1991 CanLII 15 (SCC), [1991] 3 SCR 595
- ↑ R v Grandinetti, 2005 SCC 5 (CanLII), [2005] 1 SCR 27
Admissions During "Mr. Big" Operations
Admission by Co-accused
It is generally well established that an accused's statement is admissible only against the person making making it. It is not admissible against a co-accused.[1]
It is for this reason that co-accused can have separate trials.[2]
- ↑
R v Ward, 2011 NSCA 78 (CanLII) paras 28 to 40
R v BC,
McFall v The Queen, [1980] 1 SCR 321, 1979 CanLII 176
R v Starr, 2000 SCC 40 (CanLII) at para 217
R v Kelawon 2006 SCC 96 (CanLII) at para 96
- ↑ Guimond v The Queen, [1979] 1 SCR 960, 1979 CanLII 204
Guilty Plea of Co-Accused
A guilty plea of a co-accused or uncharged accomplice will usually no relevancy to the issue of guilt of the accused.[1] The prejudicial effect of the evidence will often outweigh any probative value of such evidence.[2]However, where it is permissible, such as for the purpose of credibility assessment, it should usually be accompanied by instructions warning of its use.[3]
As Relevant to Credibility of Co-Accused
Where a co-accused testifies, the Crown may be able to tender evidence of the guilty plea as relevant the credibility of that witness.[4]
Jury Instructions
Where evidence of an accomplice's guilty plea is tendered, there will ordinarily be a caution to the jury on its use. However, the failure to do so is not fatal absent prejudice to the accused.[5]
- ↑
R v Berry, 1957 CanLII 115 (ON CA), [1957] O.R. 249 (C.A.)
R v Buxbaum (1989), 33 O.A.C. 1 (C.A.), leave to S.C.C. refused
R v Lessard (1979), 50 C.C.C. (2d) 175 (Que. C.A.)
R v Caesar, 2016 ONCA 599 (CanLII), 350 O.A.C. 352
- ↑
R v Berry, 2017 ONCA 17 (CanLII) at para 35
- ↑
Berry, ibid. at para 36
- ↑ R v Granados-Arana, 2018 ONCA 826 (CanLII)
- ↑
R v MacGregor, MacGregor (1981), 1981 CanLII 3351 (ON CA), 64 C.C.C. (2d) 353 at p. 358,
R. v. Simpson, 1988 CanLII 89 (SCC), [1988] 1 S.C.R. 3, at p. 19
Granados-Arana, supra, per curiam, at para 7