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The accused was acquitted of armed robbery due to unreliable eyewitness and voice identification evidence.
The accused was charged with five offences arising from an armed robbery: two counts of robbery with a firearm, pointing a firearm, disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence, and threatening death.
The Crown's case rested entirely on eyewitness identification of the accused as the gunman.
The court found the identification evidence unreliable due to numerous frailties including the brief duration of observation, the shock and fear experienced by witnesses, the concealment of identifying features by clothing and a bandana, the minimal words spoken by the gunman, claims of voice disguise, and contamination of the identification process through pre-police discussion among witnesses.
The court acquitted the accused on all charges.
The defendant was acquitted of aggravated assault and uttering threats based on self-defence.
The defendant was charged with aggravated assault by wounding and uttering a threat to cause death following an incident in which she stabbed the complainant twice.
The Crown's case relied on the evidence of the complainant and a witness.
The defendant testified that she acted in self-defence after being thrown to the ground and pinned down by the complainant, who was about to punch her.
The trial judge found credibility issues with all three witnesses but determined that the defendant's evidence, while not fully believed, left reasonable doubt regarding the circumstances of the incident and the availability of self-defence.
The defendant was acquitted of both charges.
