R. v. C. (R.), 1993 CanLII 142 (SCC), [1993] 2 SCR 226

Her Majesty The Queen Appellant

v.

R.C. Respondent

Indexed as: R. v. C. (R.)

File No.: 23126.

1993: April 29.

Present: L'Heureux‑Dubé, Gonthier, McLachlin, Iacobucci and Major JJ.

on appeal from the court of appeal for quebec

Criminal law ‑‑ Evidence ‑‑ Sexual assault ‑‑ Victim the accused's minor daughter ‑‑ Victim 12 years old at time of trial ‑‑ Testimony given by the victim and by her mother and brother ‑‑ Accused denied child's evidence ‑‑ Issue of credibility ‑‑ Trial judge dismissing en bloc the testimony of accused without giving precise reasons for doing so ‑‑ No manifest error of law or principle permitting Court of Appeal to intervene and order new trial.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Quebec Court of Appeal (1992), 49 Q.A.C. 37, allowing an appeal and ordering a new trial following conviction by Boyer, J.C.Q. Appeal allowed, Iacobucci and Major JJ. dissenting.

Denis Talbot and Jean‑Pierre Proulx, for the appellant.

Gilles Gingras, for the respondent.

English version of the judgment of the Court delivered orally by

//Gonthier J.//

Gonthier J. ‑‑ This an appeal as of right. A majority of us agree with Rothman J.A.'s dissenting reasons in the Court of Appeal. Accordingly, the appeal is allowed, the judgment of the Court of Appeal is set aside and the judgment of the Court of Quebec, Criminal Division, convicting the respondent of the counts charged is upheld, Iacobucci and Major JJ. dissenting.

Judgment accordingly.

Solicitor for the appellant: Denis Talbot, Valleyfield.

Solicitors for the respondent: Vinet & Lalonde, Salaberry‑de‑Valleyfield.