By Canadian Press

Top court set to weigh in on rape-shield law amid concern over fair trial

Jul 31, 2019 | 5:18 AM

TORONTO — The Supreme Court is expected today to clarify the limits of Canada’s rape-shield law.

At issue is just how far the law should go in protecting sexual-assault complainants from scrutiny of their sex lives.

In the case before the top court, a man was initially convicted of sexually assaulting and impregnating a teenager.

Ontario’s Appeal Court quashed the verdict on appeal.

It found the trial judge had blocked the defence from asking the complainant relevant questions about her sexual activities.

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That made it impossible for the accused to show someone else might have made the teen pregnant.

The Canadian Press