Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Supreme Court To Rule On Use Of Sexual History In Edmonton Assault Trial

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Jun, 2019 11:59 PM

    OTTAWA — A Supreme Court decision due this morning could clarify the law on how much of the history between a complainant and a person accused in a sexual-assault case can be brought into court.

     

    Patrick John Goldfinch was charged in 2014 with assaulting a woman he once lived with.


    He was acquitted at his trial in Edmonton after a jury heard evidence that he and the alleged victim still had a "friends-with-benefits" relationship.


    A complainant's sexual history can't ordinarily be used as evidence unless it's directly relevant to the charge.


    But in this case, the judge allowed it, worried that jurors would have thought the relationship was platonic if they didn't know about Goldfinch's history with the woman.


    Alberta's Court of Appeal said last year that could have been avoided without specifically talking about their sexual history, and now the Supreme Court is to make a final decision.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Controversial bill on energy project assessment passes Senate heavily amended

    The Senate passed the Impact Assessment Act late Thursday with more than 180 amendments.

    Controversial bill on energy project assessment passes Senate heavily amended

    China 'inventing excuses' to block shipments of Canadian canola, Trudeau says

    Trudeau used his toughest language yet over the Chinese government's decision to reject Canadian canola on the grounds that inspectors have found pests in it.

    China 'inventing excuses' to block shipments of Canadian canola, Trudeau says

    Trudeau has 'confidence' in RCMP to investigate Canadian extremist travellers

    Trudeau said the Mounties and intelligence agencies in Canada and abroad face the difficult challenge of presenting the information they gather in court as evidence of crimes.

    Trudeau has 'confidence' in RCMP to investigate Canadian extremist travellers

    Woman takes federal border agency to court after trusted-traveller pass pulled

    Mei Dong, a Chinese citizen with permanent-resident status in Canada, is asking a court to rule that she has not breached the law against money-laundering and terrorist-financing.

    Woman takes federal border agency to court after trusted-traveller pass pulled

    Environment groups say oil industry asks will lead to 'climate chaos'

    The different visions for Canada's economic and environmental policies are a preview of the federal election campaign to come, in which the fossil-fuel sector and environment groups are expected to play central and conflicting roles.

    Environment groups say oil industry asks will lead to 'climate chaos'

    Ottawa's spring floods put last round of repairs to the test

    Water levels on the Ottawa River remain a metre above normal and crews working for the National Capital Commission are just beginning to assess the damage to infrastructure near the Ottawa River.

    Ottawa's spring floods put last round of repairs to the test