Facts: S.S. was charged with sexual offences against his young niece. The trial admitted the niece's videotaped statement due to her inability to testify, leading to S.S.'s conviction.
Issue: The appeal focused on whether the trial judge erred in admitting the niece's statement without ensuring its reliability, given the hearsay concerns.
Ruling: The Supreme Court of Canada allowed the appeal, restoring the conviction. It agreed with the dissenting judge at the Court of Appeal, who found the trial judge's reliability analysis sufficient.
Outcome: Conviction for sexual offences restored, emphasizing the importance of threshold reliability in hearsay evidence.
Amount Awarded: Not applicable, as the decision concerned the procedural aspects of criminal law.
