R v Russo

Decided: 2026-09-29. Docket: CA50480. Citation: 2026 BCCA 394 (CanLII). Criminal and statutory offences — Sexual assault — Appeal from conviction — Whether conviction could rest on corroborated account of events on stairs — Trial judge accepted eyewitness testimony and found intentional touching violating sexual integrity — Challenges to credibility findings and alleged errors of law on appeal — Appeal dismissed | Procedure — Appeals — Reasons for judgment, W.(D.) — Whether trial judge failed to apply W.(D.) principles to exculpatory evidence — Functional and contextual reading of reasons — Presumption that trial judge knew law and considered evidence — No risk burden shifted or reasonable doubt ignored — Appeal dismissed | Evidence — Witness credibility and reliability — Tainting, misappr