This advanced criminal law class examines legal issues that commonly arise in relation to criminal sexual offences. Topics will include: consent and mistaken belief in consent; failure to disclose HIV+ status; access to the complainant’s counselling and other records; the use of text messages and other private records in cross-examination; admissibility of evidence of the complainant’s prior sexual history; prior complaint and recent fabrication; admissibility of similar fact evidence; sentencing, and the ethics of prosecuting and defending sexual offences.
Method of Evaluation: Research paper - 7,000 words, excluding footnotes and bibliography, (80% of final grade) and class attendance and participation (20% of final grade)