1. THE TRIAL IN CANADIAN COURTS – Part 3
Rules and Types of Evidence

2. RULES/TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Admissibility of evidence means whether evidence should be allowed to be presented to a judge or jury to weigh an accused’s guilt or innocence
If there is doubt on either side whether any evidence should be admitted, a voir dire is held
During this, jury leaves and both sides make presentations to judge
Judge then rules on whether it is admitted

3. SELF-INCRIMINATION
Self-incrimination is grounds under which a witness can refuse to respond to a question asked while on the stand
Witness is protected from having any statements they make on stand that might “incriminate that witness in any other proceeding”
Exception is perjury, in which witness gives intentionally misleading evidence

4. PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS
This category of communication cannot be required to be presented in court as evidence
Example – spouses are not required to give testimony against accused; they are, however, able to give as defence
Other examples: parishioners & clergy, patients & doctors, etc.

5. SIMILAR FACT EVIDENCE
Evidence that shows the accused has committed similar offences in the past
Purpose is to show accused has a pattern of criminal behaviour (if, for ex., accused claims it was an accident
However, voir dire is held to determine if any similar fact evidence is relevant to case

6. HEARSAY EVIDENCE
Evidence not given from the personal knowledge or experience of the witness testifying
Given when witness gives testimony regarding what someone else said or wrote
Ex. – On stand, Mr. A testifies, “Ms. B told me that she saw Mr. C rob the grocery store.”

7. HEARSAY EVIDENCE, cont’d.
Hearsay evidence cannot be admitted as evidence
Exceptions:
out-of-court statement (but only to show statement was made, not admitted for its content)
Witness quoting from someone dying (now dead and cannot testify)
Evidence considered necessary & reliable

8. OPINION EVIDENCE
Evidence by witness regarding their thoughts, assumptions, conclusions about what they experienced
Ex. – “He was staggering and couldn’t speak clearly. I think he was drunk.”
Exceptions – qualified experts on a subject are allowed to give opinion, but only where topic is beyond knowledge of both judge and jury

9. CHARACTER EVIDENCE
Evidence showing accused as having either positive or negative traits
Crown is restricted use of this kind of evidence; therefore it cannot use prior convictions as evidence towards case
However, if defence gives character evidence, Crown allowed to refute it by introducing evidence to contrary (such as prior convictions)

10. CHARACTER EVIDENCE
As well, if accused decides to take stand and testify, Crown may cross-examine, but only to determine if any statements made were false (i.e. – cannot attack credibility of accused)

11. PHOTOGRAPHS
Can be admitted as evidence only if they are accurate depiction of crime scene
Photographer or developer may take stand to answer questions on process of picture taken (to ensure photo is valid)
Photos meant merely to incite jury can be considered inadmissible by judge

12. ELECTRONIC DEVICES & VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
Considering principle of “reasonable expectation of privacy”, recording conversations that are private are not admitted as evidence; UNLESS:
Police have secured a court order authorizing them to do so
One of the two parties involved in the conversation have consented to being recorded

13. ELECTRONIC DEVICES & VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
In emergencies in which serious harm can be prevented, police are allowed to record conversations
Video surveillance is also admissible if recording public areas
If video or listening devices are used to ‘spy’ on person or their property, search warrant is required first

14. POLYGRAPH EVIDENCE
Polygraph (lie detector) evidence cannot be admitted as evidence, deemed as hearsay evidence
Only evidence can be what the accused said; however, polygraph operator cannot give testimony as to whether analysis showed person’s responses to be truth or lies

15. CONFESSION
Acknowledgement by accused that some or all of charges/accusations are true
Can be admitted as evidence if:
Given after accused was arrested and given rights to legal counsel
Confession was voluntary (i.e.- not made while tortured, lengthy questioning, or given leniency if confessed)

16. CONFESSION 2 types: Inculpatory confession – admission of guilt
Exculpatory confession – denial of guilt

17. ILLEGALLY OBTAINED EVIDENCE
Typically not admitted as evidence
However, can be admitted if judge rules that evidence does not bring “the administration of justice into disrepute”