The case confirms that in appeals from judge-alone trials, the Dansie framework applies: the appellate court must undertake an independent assessment of the evidence while giving weight to the trial judge's advantage, but must approach the trial judge's reasons with circumspection lest findings of fact divert the court from the requisite independent assessment. Discrepancies between prosecution witnesses on peripheral matters (such as the complainant's emotional state after the offending) do not necessarily undermine the credibility of either witness where the core account remains consistent. The prosecution's failure to call a witness is inconsequential where the witness's evidence would not have affected the resolution of the factual issues in contention.
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