Confessions to Mr Big: A new rule of evidence?

Brendon Murphy; John Anderson

doi:10.1177/1365712715613485

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Confessions to Mr Big: A new rule of evidence?

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Confessions to Mr Big: A new rule of evidence?

Brendon Murphy and John Anderson

International Journal of Evidence & Proof, Vol.20(1), pp.29-48

2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1365712715613485

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Abstract

Law

undercover policing

'Mr Big' technique

confessions

admissibility

reliability

In Queen v Hart, the Supreme Court of Canada recognised what was described as a 'new rule of evidence' concerning confessions obtained during 'Mr Big' operations. This undercover policing technique is known to be a time-intensive but effective strategy in the investigation of cases in which suspects are highly secretive. In Hart, the Canadian Supreme Court recognised the value of this form of investigation, but emphasised that such strategies require careful scrutiny by the judiciary because of the potential for unethical policing and the unreliability of confessions in cases where this evidence is obtained in association with 'entrapment' strategies. This article examines the 'novel' jurisprudence in Hart, and considers its utility in the context of other common law countries, particularly Australia where uniform evidence legislation applies in the majority of jurisdictions. Ultimately it is contended that the 'new rule of evidence' in Hart is effectively a specific adaptation of well-known rules of evidence in the extant common law and legislation of Australia, England and New Zealand and, therefore, of limited utility outside Canada.

Details

Title: Confessions to Mr Big: A new rule of evidence?
Authors: Brendon Murphy (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
John Anderson (Author) - University of Newcastle
Publication details: International Journal of Evidence & Proof, Vol.20(1), pp.29-48
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd.
Date published: 2016
DOI: 10.1177/1365712715613485
ISSN: 1365-7127
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449257302621
Output Type: Journal article

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