R v Jeffries

Facts

The accused was charged in connection with controlled drugs. Lists were found. A detective was asked for her opinion of what the lists meant, and whether they showed that the accused was dealing. That opinion was excluded.

Issue

May a police officer interpret documents by giving an opinion on the very question the jury has to decide?

Held

Not on these facts. The opinion was inadmissible. The officer could describe what she had found. She could not give the jury her conclusion on what it proved.

Principle

An opinion that does no more than tell the tribunal how to decide the case is not expert evidence. It is advocacy.

Why it matters

This chapter does not give a report citation beyond the year. Chard and Anderson are the same line.

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