During a criminal trial, the Crown applied under s. 714.1 of the Criminal Code for two witnesses to testify by videoconference.
The first witness, a police officer on vacation, was permitted to testify from a remote courthouse on consent.
The second witness, a civilian with a high-risk pregnancy, was permitted to testify from her home over the defence's objection that she should testify from a formal setting.
The court found that the solemnity of the proceedings and security concerns could be adequately addressed while allowing her to testify from home, minimizing health risks.
