Law360 Canada ( February 23, 2026, 9:37 AM EST) -- Appeal by accused from convictions for sexual assault and sexual interference involving a five-year-old child he was babysitting. The conviction for sexual assault was stayed under R. v. Kienapple. The appellant argued the trial judge erred in concluding identification was proven beyond a reasonable doubt, misapprehended evidence including text messages exchanged with the child’s mother, failed to properly assess the child’s evidence, and provided inadequate reasons. The background showed the appellant met the mother online, stayed at her home on May 27-28, 2021, and babysat her children while she attended a party. The mother returned intoxicated. The child’s evidence was primarily admitted through a video interview, where she described explicit sexual acts using childlike terminology. The mother testified to behavioural changes in the child after May 28 and confronted the appellant following texts he sent on June 7, stating, “If you had any idea of what I did when I was at your house you’d probably be devastated” and “Guess you’ll never know, and it was the best thing ever.” The appellant claimed these texts referred to making breakfast and drawing pictures the next morning. He also argued missing texts and inconsistencies in the child’s statements undermined reliability. The Crown maintained the trial judge correctly applied the law on credibility, identification, and assessment of children’s evidence, and that the reasons were sufficient for appellate review....