Ontario criminal | Appeal
FRESH EVIDENCE
Judge might have come to different conclusion had doctor’s report been available
Accused appealed from finding that he was not criminally responsible (NCR) after he pleaded guilty to criminal harassment, assault causing bodily harm, utter death threat and failing to comply with recognizance. Accused relied on report of doctor, prepared shortly after proceedings concluded. In this report, doctor did not support claim of NCR with respect to number of offences. This report was not available to judge at hearing when he found accused NCR. Report was thorough and very helpful in shedding more light on accused’s circumstances. Appeal allowed; new trial ordered on NCR issue only. With her usual fairness, Crown conceded that doctor’s report should be admitted as fresh evidence and that new trial should be ordered, but limited solely to NCR issue. Court accepted this concession as reasonable. Had doctor’s report been available to judge at hearing, he may well have come to different conclusion.
R. v. Alexander (Nov. 27, 2014, Ont. S.C.J., Trotter J., File No. 54/14) 118 W.C.B. (2d) 58.
