Supreme Court of Canada Addresses Admissibility of Posthypnosis Witness Evidence: R. v. Trochym (2007)

In February of 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada issued its ruling in R. v. Trochym, a case in which the Court addressed the admissibility of posthypnosis witness testimony. The holding by a majority of five Justices establishes a presumption of inadmissibility for posthypnosis evidence that is very unlikely to be overcome. Although not a clear bar against this form of testimony, this ruling makes it extraordinarily difficult for such testimony to be admitted in the future. The authors discuss the case, the relevant empirical literature, and implications for the Canadian psychology community, including some general recommendations for improved integration of psychology and law.