Dr. Newall

The applicant sought statutory accident benefits for a chronic pain program and assistive devices (a lawn mower and snow blower) following a motor vehicle accident.

The Tribunal found that the chronic pain program was not reasonable and necessary, relying on insurer's examinations indicating the applicant had reached maximum medical recovery and was an adaptive pain coper.

The Tribunal also denied the assistive devices, noting the applicant's pre-accident inability to perform lawn care and snow removal tasks.

The application was dismissed.

The respondent was convicted of first degree murder of a 19-month-old child.

At trial, the Crown introduced testimony from two jailhouse informants who claimed the respondent confessed to the killing.

The trial judge did not give a Vetrovec warning to the jury regarding the unreliability of these informants.

The Court of Appeal set aside the conviction.

The Supreme Court of Canada allowed the Crown's appeal and restored the conviction.

A majority of the Court found that either the trial judge did not err in exercising his discretion not to give the warning, or that the error was cured by the overwhelming independent evidence against the respondent.