The case provides a useful collection of the legal principles governing contested plea hearings, including that the Crown opening constitutes the agreed factual basis, contested facts must be proved by admissible evidence, and facts adverse to the accused must be established beyond reasonable doubt. On appellate review, a sentencing judge's acceptance of one witness over another on a contested plea is not merely a 'preference' where the judge has independently rejected the accused's account and accepted the prosecution witness's account. Sentencing judges who incorporate prosecution submissions by reference rather than giving detailed reasons may prompt the grant of leave to appeal to enable proper review.
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