Criminal Law: Sexual Assault; Text Messages; Prior Sexual History
R. v. Hanrahan, 2025 SCC 1 (41220)
(Restriction on publication in the NLCA)
Chief Justice Wagner: “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.”