This mid-trial ruling addresses a Corbett application regarding the admissibility of a prior youth manslaughter conviction for the accused, Jahwayne Smart, in a first-degree murder trial.
The court applies the four Corbett factors and concludes that the prejudicial effect of admitting the manslaughter conviction outweighs its probative value, given the risk of propensity reasoning by the jury.
The ruling allows the Crown to cross-examine the accused on his adult record but excludes the youth manslaughter conviction.
