R. v. Zurowski, 2004 SCC 72, [2004] 3 SCR 509

R. v. Zurowski, [2004] 3 S.C.R. 509, 2004 SCC 72

David Zurowski                                                                                                Appellant

v.

Her Majesty The Queen                                                                               Respondent

Indexed as:  R. v. Zurowski

Neutral citation:  2004 SCC 72.

File No.:  30074.

2004:  November 12.^*

Present:  McLachlin C.J. and Major, LeBel, Deschamps, Fish, Abella and Charron JJ.

on appeal from the court of appeal for alberta

Criminal law — Evidence — Eyewitness identification — Accused convicted of driving offences — Accused’s convictions set aside and acquittals entered given frailties of identification evidence.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Alberta Court of Appeal (2003), 20 Alta. L.R. (4th) 223, 339 A.R. 233, 312 W.A.C. 233, 19 C.R. (6th) 166, 44 M.V.R. (4th) 39, [2004] 6 W.W.R. 483, [2003] A.J. No. 1342 (QL), 2003 ABCA 315, upholding the accused’s convictions for dangerous driving causing bodily harm, driving while disqualified and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.  Appeal allowed.

Alexander D. Pringle, Q.C., and Dino Bottos, for the appellant.

Arnold Schlayer, for the respondent.

The judgment of the Court was delivered orally by

1                                   The Chief Justice — We are all of the view that given the frailties of the identification evidence in this case, the appeal must be allowed and acquittals are entered.

Appeal allowed.

Solicitors for the appellant:  Pringle & Associates, Edmonton.

Solicitor for the respondent:  Department of Justice, Edmonton.