In order to be admissible, evidence must also, generally, be relevant in the sense of being probative of a legal or factual issue before the court. Thus, evidence is inadmissible if it does not logically tend to make a legal or factual issue more or less probable. An exception to this principle relates to the credibility of a witness, which is not, generally, in issue at an extradition hearing. It must be kept in mind that an extradition hearing is more analogous to an appeal hearing, at which a paper record is tendered and submissions are made in respect of the matters referred to in the record. Thus, there is no cross-examination of witnesses whose affidavits or depositions are tendered at an extradition hearing: see Vardy v. Scott, 1976 CanLII 154 (SCC), [1977] 1 S.C.R. 293, 66 D.L.R. (3d) 431. It is rare that a witness is tendered to give viva voce evidence at an extradition hearing, with the possible exception being a witness called as to the fugitive’s identity, who may then be cross-examined.
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