Case information

Criminal law — Evidence — What corroboration standard is necessary to support the testimony of Vetrovec witnesses and how should courts ensure such corroboration is both independent and materially significant — What framework should guide courts in evaluating the totality of evidence in criminal trials, especially when combining multiple forms of unreliable evidence, and what safeguards are essential to prevent weak or neutral evidence from improperly reinforcing other weak evidence, increasing the risk of wrongful convictions?

Case summaries are prepared by the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (Law Branch). Please note that summaries are not provided to the Judges of the Court. They are placed on the Court file and website for information purposes only.

Mr. Naidu was charged with two counts of first degree murder following the fatal shootings of two men with whom he trafficked cocaine. The Crown’s case includes evidence from a Vetrovec witness and testimony from his friend led to corroborate part of the Vetrovec witness’s testimony. The Crown’s case also includes witness testimony including a 911 caller’s description of a man observed running away, CCTV video records, cell phone tower data, phone records, clothing and shoes seized from the Vetrovec witness, and DNA evidence found on one of the shoes. The trial judge convicted Mr. Naidu on two counts of first degree murder. The Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal.