Le contre-interrogatoire selon la règle de Dunn : À lire.

R. v. Quansah, 2015 ONCA 237 :

[75]       In Browne v. Dunn, Lord Herschell, L.C., explained that if a party intended to impeach a witness called by an opposite party, the party who seeks to impeach must give the witness an opportunity, while the witness is in the witness box, to provide any explanation the witness may have for the contradictory evidence: Browne v. Dunn, pp. 70-71; R. v. Henderson (1999), 134 C.C.C. (3d) 131 (Ont. C.A.), at p. 141; and R. v. McNeill (2000), 144 C.C.C. (3d) 551 (Ont. C.A.), at para. 44.

[76]       The rule in Browne v. Dunn, as it has come to be known, reflects a confrontation principle in the context of cross-examination of a witness for a party opposed in interest on disputed factual issues. In some jurisdictions, for example in Australia, practitioners describe it as a “puttage” rule because it requires a cross-examiner to “put” to the opposing witness in cross-examination the substance of contradictory evidence to be adduced through the cross-examiner’s own witness or witnesses.

[77]       The rule is rooted in the following considerations of fairness:

  1. Fairness to the witness whose credibility is attacked:

The witness is alerted that the cross-examiner intends to impeach his or her evidence and given a chance to explain why the contradictory evidence, or any inferences to be drawn from it, should not be accepted: R. v. Dexter, 2013 ONCA 744, 313 O.A.C. 226, at para. 17; Browne v. Dunn, at pp. 70-71.

  1. Fairness to the party whose witness is impeached:

The party calling the witness has notice of the precise aspects of that witness’s testimony that are being contested so that the party can decide whether or what confirmatory evidence to call; and

                                   iii.        Fairness to the trier of fact:

Without the rule, the trier of fact would be deprived of information that might show the credibility impeachment to be unfounded and thus compromise the accuracy of the verdict.