The accused is charged with first-degree murder of his former intimate partner.
The Crown sought to admit the expert opinion evidence of a forensic pathologist regarding the cause of death, which included neck compression.
The defence opposed the admission, arguing the expert was biased, inflexible, and failed to consider alternative causes for petechiae, such as coughing.
The court applied the two-stage test for expert evidence and found the expert was properly qualified, understood her duty to the court, and her reasoning was transparent and evidence-based.
The court admitted the expert evidence, concluding its probative value outweighed any potential prejudicial effect, leaving the ultimate assessment of weight to the jury.
