Canada Judgment

Supreme Court of Canada

R. v. Ewert

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Source document

01

Holding and result

The majority of the Court of Appeal erred by substituting its view on the weight of evidence for that of the trial judge; because there was no error of law the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to set aside the conviction and the Supreme Court restored the conviction.

Court disposition

Appeal allowed; conviction restored.

Orders

  • Appeal allowed and conviction restored.

02

Material facts

Parties

Her Majesty The Queen

Appellant Counsel: Elizabeth Bennett

Jeffrey George Ewert

Respondent Counsel: Simon R. Buck

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal Appeal / Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada; Judgment on Appeal

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The Crown argued the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction because no error of law was made; the majority merely disagreed with the trial judge about the weight of the evidence and therefore the conviction should be restored.
Respondent
The respondent (accused) argued the Court of Appeal properly set aside the conviction, implying the trial was vitiated by error sufficient to warrant appellate intervention.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Supreme Court of Canada, R. v. Ewert, [1992] 3 S.C.R. 161

    An appellate court cannot overturn a criminal conviction for a difference in assessment of evidentiary weight; jurisdiction to set aside requires an error of law.

  2. 02

    Supreme Court of Canada, R. v. Ewert, [1992] 3 S.C.R. 161

    Disagreement with the trial judge on credibility or weight of evidence does not amount to a reviewable question of law.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The majority of the Court of Appeal erred by substituting its view on the weight of evidence for that of the trial judge; because there was no error of law the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to set aside the conviction and the Supreme Court restored the conviction.

Court disposition

Appeal allowed; conviction restored.

  • Appeal allowed and conviction restored.

Source and reliance status

Supreme Court of Canada · 14 October 1992

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Judgment reading view

Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

Supreme Court of Canada

Judgment· 14 October 1992

[1992] 3 SCR 161

R. v. Ewert Collection Supreme Court Judgments Date 1992-10-14 Report [1992] 3 SCR 161 Case number 22765 Judges La Forest, Gérard V.; L'Heureux-Dubé, Claire; Sopinka, John; Gonthier, Charles Doherty; McLachlin, Beverley On appeal from British Columbia Subjects Criminal law Notes SCC Case Information: 22765 Decision Content R. v. Ewert, [1992] 3 S.C.R. 161 Her Majesty The Queen Appellant v. Jeffrey George Ewert Respondent Indexed as: R. v. Ewert File No.: 22765. 1992: October 14. Present: La Forest, L'Heureux‑Dubé, Sopinka, Gonthier and McLachlin JJ. on appeal from the court of appeal for british columbia Criminal law ‑‑ Appeal ‑‑ Powers of Court of Appeal ‑‑ Error of law ‑‑ Court of Appeal having no jurisdiction to set aside conviction since there was no error of law ‑‑ Appeal allowed and conviction restored. APPEAL from a judgment of the British Columbia Court of Appeal (1991), 68 C.C.C. (3d) 207, 5 B.C.A.C. 265, 11 W.A.C. 265, setting aside the accused's conviction on a charge of attempted murder. Appeal allowed and conviction restored. Elizabeth Bennett, for the appellant. Simon R. Buck, for the respondent. //La Forest J.// The judgment of the Court was delivered orally by La Forest J. ‑‑ The Court is ready to hand down judgment. The judgment will be pronounced by Mr. Justice Sopinka. //Sopinka J.// Sopinka J. ‑‑ This is an appeal as of right based on the dissenting reasons

of Southin J.A. The only issue before us is whether the majority of the Court of Appeal found an error of law which gave the Court of Appeal jurisdiction to allow the appeal. In our opinion, the majority disagreed with the trial judge as to the weight of evidence. We, therefore, agree with Southin J.A. that there was no question or error of law. The appeal is allowed and the conviction is restored. Judgment accordingly. Solicitors for the appellant: Wilson & Buck, Vancouver. Solicitor for the respondent: The Attorney General of British Columbia, Vancouver.

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

R. v. Ewert, [1992] 3 S.C.R. 161

Case cited

British Columbia Court of Appeal decision (1991), 68 C.C.C. (3d) 207

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