What are the risks of attaching excessive weight to police testimony?
Canada (Federal), Canada
The following excerpt is from R. v. MacKenzie, 2013 SCC 50 (CanLII):
The risks of attaching excessive weight to police testimony have long been recognized in the jurisprudence. In Graat v. The Queen, 1982 CanLII 33 (SCC), [1982] 2 S.C.R. 819, at p. 840, for example, Dickson J. (as he then was) advised that “there may be a tendency for judges and juries to let the opinion of police witnesses overwhelm the opinion evidence of other witnesses”.
"The most advanced legal research software ever built."
The above passage should not be considered legal advice. Reliable answers to complex legal questions require comprehensive research memos. To learn more visit www.alexi.com.
Other Questions
Is Wardlow entitled to have his claim that the police used excessive force, excessive force and excessive force on the basis that he was a drug courier? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
Can a plaintiff bring a claim for excessive force under the Fourth Amendment against a police force that uses excessive force? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
Does a police officer advising a defendant of the police policy and procedure and procedure to release their breathalyzer test results constitute psychological police coercion sufficient to exclude the test? ("New York", United States of America)
When a motorcyclist is stopped by police in a "hot pursuit" vehicle, can the police use the phrase "police pursuit" doctrine? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
What is the effect of the arresting officer's testimony that a defendant and his companions consented to accompany the police to the police station house to answer questions? ("New York", United States of America)
In what circumstances will a police officer be held liable for excessive force, improper search and excessive force by two officers during a traffic stop? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
Is there any case law supporting the finding of inconsistency in testimony of a witness who testified that the testimony was consistent? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
Does a complainant have an obligation to report a theft to the police, not the police? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
What is the test for out-of-court testimonial statements in the context of expert testimony? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
Does the Fourth Amendment protect against excessive force by the police? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
