SELECTED CASE LAW
ONTARIO:
In 2016 ONCJ 882, a pre-trial procedure, three defendants, Mr. A, Mr. B, and Mr. N were accused of human trafficking and other prostitution related offences. Mr. A faced additional charges of assault and uttering threats. Mr. N faced additional charges of uttering threats. This case determined whether Mr. A would stand trial on the offences he was charged with.
Ms. D allegedly met Mr. B over Instagram and later helped Ms. D make an ad on a website advertising sexual services. Ms. B allegedly gave Mr. D all the money she earned and later passed her on to another man Mr. N, who then assisted her with her sexual services but did not control her in the way Mr. B had but threatened her. Allegedly, she later worked for Mr. A who she met over Instagram and he asked her to post an ad for sexual services online because he did not know how to do it. She allegedly communicated with Mr. A via text about her clients and how much she was paid. Mr. A allegedly assaulted Ms. B, pointed a gun at her, and said he would kill her if she “snitched” on him.
The judge found that there was enough evidence for Mr. A to stand trial on assault, human trafficking, uttering threats, materially benefiting from human trafficking, procuring a person for the purposes of prostitution. Charges were dismissed related to the firearm. The judge found there was enough evidence for Mr. N to stand trial for uttering threats, human trafficking, procuring a person for the purposes of prostitution and materially benefiting from the same. The judge found there was enough evidence for Mr. B to stand trial for the materially benefiting from Ms. D providing sexual services, but did not find there was enough evidence for him to stand trial on the procuring count or receiving a material benefit from trafficking.
Criminal Offence(s): Human Trafficking and Advertising Sexual Services