Teen prostitution trial witness broke judge's order - Action News
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Ottawa

Teen prostitution trial witness broke judge's order

A 16-year-old girl has testified that she briefly considered working for three Ottawa girls accused of running a teenage prostitution ring, as their trial on human trafficking and prostitution charges continued Tuesday.

Warning: Story contains details that may offend some readers

A 16-year-old girl hastestified thatshe briefly considered working for three Ottawa girls accused of running a teenage prostitution ring, as their trial on human trafficking and prostitution charges continued Tuesday.

The teen, who was 15 in the winter of 2012, said she was hounded on Facebook by one of the accused who told her she could make a lot of money by performing oral sex on men.

She testified the accused messaged her asking if shed give a foot massage to a man with a foot fetish for $150, which she said she briefly considered because "$150 for a foot massage is a lot of money for a kid."

She then said she decided not to do it because "its not something youd ever do in your right mind."

When asked by defence lawyer Trevor Brown why she didnt block the accused from her Facebook account, the teen in the witness box said she was scared because the accused knew where she lived and once showed up at her school to confront her.

The teen said she did eventually de-friend the accused, telling her "You just want to use me for money and you shouldnt tell me what to do."

Teen disobeyed judge's orders

The girl was testifying for a second day Tuesday, and was reminded byJudge Diane Lahaie thatshe was still under oath and wasn't allowed to talk about her day in court.

Defence lawyer Trevor Brown arrived in court Tuesday with copies of text and Facebook conversations thegirlhad with two of her friends, including another alleged victim who's yet to testify.

The messages included the girl discussing how funny it was to see the accused in court in handcuffs and without makeup.

She also said Brown was "trying to make me mess up."

This blurred-out photo was taken from an account on the photo-sharing site Instagram. The account has the same name as a Facebook and Twitter account entered as evidence in court. (CBC)

When Lahaie asked the teen why she had discussed what happened in court after she was told not to, she replied that it was stupid and she shouldn't have done it, but she was trying to relate to someone who was a part of the trial.

Lahaie said she needed time to consider the potential consequences, which could include contempt of court charges against the teen.

The trialis set toresume on Friday.

Trial resumed Monday after summer break

Three teenage girls, two aged 16 and one age 17, are facing 74 charges including human trafficking, procuring for prostitution and forcible confinement after they were arrested in June 2012.

Police said the accused used social media to lure nine girls between the ages of 13 and 17 to a southeast Ottawa home where they were forced into prostitution.

Seven of those girls are set to testify before the recently resumed trialends, which is expected in November.

None of the accused or victims can be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.