R. v. Tyers (S.L.), (2015) 381 B.C.A.C. 46 (CA)

• Judge: Bauman, C.J.B.C., Chiasson and Stromberg-Stein, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (British Columbia)
• Case Date: December 10, 2015
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: (2015), 381 B.C.A.C. 46 (CA);2015 BCCA 507

R. v. Tyers (S.L.) (2015), 381 B.C.A.C. 46 (CA);

    659 W.A.C. 46

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2016] B.C.A.C. TBEd. JA.006

Regina (respondent) v. Stephen Lloyd Tyers (appellant)

(CA41912; 2015 BCCA 507)

Indexed As: R. v. Tyers (S.L.)

British Columbia Court of Appeal

Bauman, C.J.B.C., Chiasson and Stromberg-Stein, JJ.A.

December 10, 2015.

Summary:

The accused was convicted of sexual assault. The sole issue at trial was credibility. Six months after the conviction the accused applied to re-open the trial to call a further witness. The trial judge dismissed the application. The accused appealed, arguing that the trial judge erred in assessing credibility, by relying on a letter and transcripts of recorded conversations not properly in evidence in reaching his decision, and in dismissing the application to re-open the trial.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal on all grounds.

Editor's Note: Certain names in the following case have been initialized or the case otherwise edited to prevent the disclosure of identities where required by law, publication ban, Maritime Law Book's editorial policy or otherwise.

Criminal Law - Topic 4300

Procedure - Trial judge - Duties and functions of - Respecting credibility of witnesses (incl. accused) - See paragraphs 7 to 22.

Criminal Law - Topic 4377

Procedure - Charge or directions - Jury or judge alone - Directions regarding credibility of witnesses - See paragraphs 7 to 22.

Criminal Law - Topic 4379

Procedure - Charge or directions - Jury or judge alone - Directions re evidence of character or credibility of accused - See paragraphs 7 to 22.

Criminal Law - Topic 4570

Procedure - Conduct of trial - Re-opening of trial to hear additional evidence - See paragraphs 44 to 47.

Criminal Law - Topic 4866

Appeals - Indictable offences - Grounds of appeal - Misapprehension of evidence - See paragraphs 23 to 43.

Criminal Law - Topic 5576

Evidence - Witnesses - Exhibits - Use of - See paragraphs 23 to 43.

Evidence - Topic 540

Presentation of evidence - Exhibits - General - See paragraphs 23 to 43.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. D.W., [1991] 1 S.C.R. 742; 122 N.R. 277; 46 O.A.C. 352, refd to. [para. 11].

R. v. Vuradin (F.), [2013] 2 S.C.R. 639; 446 N.R. 53; 553 A.R. 1; 583 W.A.C. 1; 2013 SCC 38, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. C.W.H. (1991), 3 B.C.A.C. 205; 7 W.A.C. 205; 68 C.C.C.(3d) 146 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Mann (R.S.) (2010), 297 B.C.A.C. 234; 504 W.A.C. 234; 2010 BCCA 569, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Jeng (H.-T.), [2004] B.C.A.C. Uned. 162; 2004 BCCA 464, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. K.S.S. (2012), 331 B.C.A.C. 78; 565 W.A.C. 78; 2012 BCCA 500, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Rodney (1988), 46 C.C.C.(3d) 323; 33 B.C.L.R.(3d) 280 (C.A.), affd. [1990] 2 S.C.R. 687; 112 N.R. 167, refd to. [para. 29].

R. v. Groves (C.) (2013), 344 B.C.A.C. 181; 587 W.A.C. 181; 2013 BCCA 446, refd to. [para. 29].

R. v. Campbell (1977), 38 C.C.C.(2d) 6 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. J.E.S. (2011), 283 O.A.C. 18; 2011 ONCA 564, refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Morrissey (R.J.) (1995), 80 O.A.C. 161; 97 C.C.C.(3d) 193 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Lohrer (A.W.), [2004] 3 S.C.R. 732; 329 N.R. 1; 208 B.C.A.C. 1; 344 W.A.C. 1; 2004 SCC 80, refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Swales (M.G.) (2014), 360 B.C.A.C. 291; 617 W.A.C. 291; 2014 BCCA 350, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Cloutier (B.A.) (2011), 278 O.A.C. 331; 272 C.C.C.(3d) 291; 2011 ONCA 484, refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. Dawson (C.D.) (2001), 158 B.C.A.C. 208; 258 W.A.C. 208; 2001 BCCA 560, dist. [para. 38].

R. v. Crate (C.W.) et al. (2011), 313 B.C.A.C. 268; 533 W.A.C. 268; 2011 BCCA 506, refd to. [para. 41].

R. v. Caron (J.V.) (2014), 353 B.C.A.C. 74; 603 W.A.C. 74; 2014 BCCA 111, refd to. [para. 41].

R. v. Palmer, [1980] 1 S.C.R. 759; 30 N.R. 181, refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Lopez (J.C.), [2015] B.C.A.C. Uned. 77; 2015 BCCA 294, refd to. [para. 45].

Counsel:

J.R. Ray, for the appellant;

M.A. Street, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard in Vancouver, B.C., before Bauman, C.J.B.C., Chiasson and Stromberg-Stein, JJ.A., of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. The following decision was delivered for the court by Stromberg-Stein, J.A., on December 10, 2015.