Philip G. Lister

The appellant appealed his convictions for sexual assault, causing bodily harm while committing a sexual assault, and threatening to cause bodily harm.

He argued that the trial judge erred in permitting the Crown to cross-examine him on his criminal record.

The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal, finding that the trial judge properly exercised his discretion under the Corbett framework and gave careful and correct limiting instructions to the jury regarding the use of the prior convictions.

The Crown appealed a trial judge's decision to lift a mandatory publication ban protecting the identity of a sexual assault complainant.

The trial judge had revoked the ban on his own motion after acquitting the accused, citing the complainant's lack of credibility.

The Supreme Court of Canada held that it had jurisdiction to hear the appeal and that the trial judge lacked the authority to revoke the mandatory publication ban without the consent of the Crown or the complainant.

The appeal was allowed and the publication ban was restored.