Evidence (Canada) — NCA Challenge Exam & JD Core Unit

Study content for Evidence (Canada) — NCA Challenge Exam & JD Core Unit: notes, practice MCQs and flashcards across 10 syllabus topics. This is AI-generated draft content — citations have not yet been independently verified.

Syllabus

• Relevance & AdmissibilityTopic

  Probative value vs. prejudicial effect balancing · Basic relevance test; logical relevance vs. legal relevance · Direct vs. circumstantial evidence

• Burden & Standard of ProofTopic

  Burden of proof (legal/persuasion) vs. burden of production (evidential) · Beyond reasonable doubt (criminal) · Balance of probabilities (civil)

• HearsayTopic

  Definition and rationale for exclusion · Principled approach (necessity + reliability): R v Khan, R v Smith · Traditional categorical exceptions: admissions, dying declarations, spontaneous utterances, present sense impression, declarations re physical sensation, state of mind, business records, public documents

• Opinion & Expert EvidenceTopic

  Lay opinion rule and exceptions · Expert evidence: Mohan four-part test (relevance, necessity, absence of exclusionary rule, qualified expert) · Independence / impartiality requirement (White Burgess)

• Character Evidence & Similar FactTopic

  Propensity rule; general exclusion of character evidence · Character of the accused; character of complainant (sexual assault shield, s.276 CEA) · Similar fact evidence / discreditable conduct: probative vs. prejudicial, R v Handy

• Witnesses & CompetenceTopic

  Competence and compellability (accused, spouse, children) · Oath, affirmation, unsworn evidence · Direct examination, cross-examination; Browne v Dunn rule

• Identification EvidenceTopic

  Eyewitness reliability; Turnbull/R v Bardales guidelines · Dock identification; photo arrays; voice identification · DNA and forensic identification

• Confessions & Statements to State AgentsTopic

  Confessions rule (voluntariness): Ibrahim rule, R v Oickle · Voir dire procedure · Statements to persons in authority

• Privilege & Exclusionary RulesTopic

  Solicitor-client / legal professional privilege · Litigation privilege (work product) · Spousal privilege and spousal incompetency

• Illegally Obtained Evidence & Charter RemediesTopic

  Charter s.24(2): Grant test (three-part analysis) · Derivative evidence; conscriptive vs. non-conscriptive distinction (historical)

• R v Seaboyer

  What is the difference between logical relevance and legal relevance in Canadian evidence law?

  1991, 2 SCR 577
• R v Lifchus

  Define beyond reasonable doubt and explain the standard from R v Lifchus.

  1997, 3 SCR 320
• R v Khan

  What are the two elements of the principled approach to hearsay (R v Khan)?

  1990, 2 SCR 531