R. v. Hanrahan, 2025 SCC 1

By services, 23 January, 2025
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2025 SCC 1
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Style of cause
R. v. Hanrahan
Main text

SUPREME COURT OF CANADA

Citation: R. v. Hanrahan, 2025 SCC 1

Appeal Heard: January 21, 2025

Judgment Rendered: January 21, 2025

Docket: 41220

Between:

His Majesty The King

Appellant

and

Lucas Hanrahan

Respondent

- and -

Attorney General of Ontario

Intervener

Coram: Wagner C.J. and Côté, Rowe, Kasirer, Jamal, O’Bonsawin and Moreau JJ.

Judgment Read By:

(paras. 1 to 2)

Wagner C.J.

Majority:

Wagner C.J. and Côté, Rowe, O’Bonsawin and Moreau JJ.

Dissent:

Kasirer and Jamal JJ.

Counsel:

Kathleen O’Reilly, K.C., for the appellant.

Robert Escott, for the respondent.

Katherine Beaudoin and Meaghan Cunningham, for the intervener.

Note: This document is subject to editorial revision before its reproduction in final form in the Canada Supreme Court Reports.


No. 41220

January 23, 2025

Le 23 janvier 2025

Coram: Wagner C.J. and Côté, Rowe, Kasirer, Jamal, O’Bonsawin and Moreau JJ.

Coram : Le juge en chef Wagner et les juges Côté, Rowe, Kasirer, Jamal, O’Bonsawin et Moreau

BETWEEN:

His Majesty The King

Appellant

- and -

Lucas Hanrahan

Respondent

- and -

Attorney General of Ontario

Intervener

ENTRE :

Sa Majesté le Roi

Appelant

- et -

Lucas Hanrahan

Intimé

- et -

Procureur général de l’Ontario

Intervenant

JUDGMENT

The appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador, Number 202101H0065, 2024 NLCA 9, dated March 7, 2024, was heard on January 21, 2025, and the Court on that day delivered the following judgment orally:

The Chief Justice — A majority of this Court would dismiss the appeal substantially for the reasons of the majority at the Court of Appeal. Justices Kasirer and Jamal would have allowed the appeal. They substantially agree with the dissenting judge that the trial judge erred in law by admitting evidence of the complainant’s prior sexual history with the respondent following the application under s. 276 of the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, and that this error had a material bearing on the acquittal.

Therefore, the appeal is dismissed.

JUGEMENT

L’appel interjeté contre l’arrêt de la Cour d’appel de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador, numéro 202101H0065, 2024 NLCA 9, daté du 7 mars 2024, a été entendu le 21 janvier 2025 et la Cour a prononcé oralement le même jour le jugement suivant :

[traduction]

Le juge en chef — La Cour, à la majorité, est d’avis de rejeter l’appel, essentiellement pour les motifs exposés par les juges majoritaires en Cour d’appel. Les juges Kasirer et Jamal auraient accueilli l’appel. Ils sont substantiellement d’accord avec la juge dissidente pour dire que le juge du procès a erré en droit en admettant la preuve des antécédents sexuels de la plaignante avec l’intimé suite à la demande fondée sur l’art. 276 du Code criminel, L.R.C. 1985, c. C-46, et que cette erreur a eu une incidence significative sur l’acquittement.

En conséquence, l’appel est rejeté.

C.J.C.

J.C.C.