TORONTO—A female witness can wear a religious veil that covers
her face while testifying in court in certain circumstances, the
Supreme Court of Canada ruled Thursday in a split decision in a
landmark case that pitted religious freedom against an accused
person's right to a fair trial.  The case involved a Muslim
woman who sought to wear the veil known as a niqab, which leaves
only the eyes exposed, while testifying against her uncle and a
cousin whom she claims sexually assaulted her when she was a
child.  The woman, who can only be identified as N.S. due to a
publication ban, said her religious beliefs dictate that she
wears the veil in public or in the presence of men who aren't
"direct" members of her family.   But the woman's lawyers said
facial expressions can be misleading. They said Muslim sexual
assault victims will hesitate to go to police if they're barred
from wearing a niqab while testifying in court.  Canada's
version of the bill of rights protects the right to wear the
niqab or burqa, but the i