By: Lisa Silver
PDF Version: W(D) Strikes Again!
Case Commented On: R v Ibrahim, 2019 ONCA 631 (CanLII)
W(D), [1991] 1 SCR 742, is entrenched in our justice system. This seminal Supreme Court of Canada decision provides a tight three-pronged approach to the application of reasonable doubt to the oft divergent evidence from the prosecution and the defence. W(D) has been considered, re-considered, and applied over 10,100 times since its release in 1991. It serves as a continual source of discussion and inspiration for scholars like me. Although the principle in and of itself is not overly complex, it is in the application of the principle to complex and unique scenarios that can raise unforeseen or even novel W(D) issues. In this post, I will consider R v Ibrahim, 2019 ONCA 631, a recent decision from the Ontario Court of Appeal, tackling the thorny issue of applying W(D) to objective mens rea offences. This will also require a detailed discussion on objective and subjective mens rea. The purpose of this robust and far reaching discussion is not to outline the differences between the two forms of liability but to appreciate the similarities. Although objective and subjective mens rea have differing aspects and sightlines, they are part of a continuum of awareness, which is key to understanding what makes conduct a crime. Such exploration is necessary to expand our understanding of why – and how – W(D) matters. For more background on subjective and objective mens rea, read my previous article on “The Subjective/Objective Debate Explained.”