R. v. S.B., 2017 SCC 16, [2017] 1 SCR 248

  

 

SUPREME COURT OF CANADA

 

Citation: R. v. S.B., 2017 SCC 16, [2017] 1 S.C.R. 248

Appeal heard: March 21, 2017 Judgment rendered: March 21, 2017 Docket: 37042

 

Between:

Her Majesty The Queen

Appellant

 

and

 

S.B.

Respondent

 

 

 

 

Coram: McLachlin C.J. and Abella, Moldaver, Karakatsanis, Wagner, Gascon and Côté JJ.

 

Reasons for Judgment: (para. 1)

McLachlin C.J. (Abella, Moldaver, Karakatsanis, Wagner, Gascon and Côté JJ. concurring)

 

 

 

 

 

R. v. S.B., 2017 SCC 16, [2017] 1 S.C.R. 248

 

 

 

Her Majesty The Queen                                                                                 Appellant

v.

S.B.                                                                                                                Respondent

 

 

 

Indexed as: R. v. S.B.

 

 

 

2017 SCC 16

 

 

 

File No.: 37042.

 

 

 

2017: March 21.

 

 

 

Present: McLachlin C.J. and Abella, Moldaver, Karakatsanis, Wagner, Gascon and Côté JJ.

 

 

 

on appeal from the court of appeal for newfoundland and labrador

 

                    Criminal law — Appeals — Powers of Court of Appeal — Accused acquitted of several counts of assault and sexual assault by jury — Court of Appeal holding that trial judge erred in allowing cross-examination of complainant on prior sexual activity and in denying Crown applications to lead evidence to rebut allegations of recent fabrication — Majority of Court of Appeal finding that jury verdict should not be set aside despite trial judge’s errors — Dissenting judge finding that proper remedy is to set aside acquittals and order new trial — New trial ordered on all charges.

 

 

 

                    APPEAL from a judgment of the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal (Green C.J. and Rowe and White JJ.A.), 2016 NLCA 20, 30 C.R. (7th) 61, 377 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 84, 1173 A.P.R. 84, 336 C.C.C. (3d) 38, [2016] N.J. No. 158 (QL), 2016 CarswellNfld 183 (WL Can.), affirming the accused’s acquittals. Appeal allowed and new trial ordered.

 

                    Iain R. W. Hollett, for the appellant.

 

                    Rosellen Sullivan and Michael A. Crystal, for the respondent.

 

                    The judgment of the Court was delivered orally by

 

[1]               The Chief Justice — We would allow the appeal and order a new trial on all the charges, for the reasons of Chief Justice Green.

 

                    Judgment accordingly.

 

                    Solicitor for the appellant: Attorney General of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s.

 

                    Solicitors for the respondent: Sullivan Breen King Defence, St. John’s; Spiteri & Ursulak, Ottawa.