Two young men were charged with ten offences related to human trafficking, procuring, and sexual services offences occurring between September 1, 2014 and April 13, 2015.
The Crown's case rested almost entirely on the testimony of the complainant, a young woman with a history of mental health issues who had herself been charged with similar offences and made her complaint to police approximately one year after her own arrest.
The trial lasted nearly 27 months across 64 court days.
The court found the complainant's testimony unreliable due to significant contradictions with her prior statements, inconsistencies regarding key facts such as how she met the accused and her ownership of a vehicle, and most critically, Facebook Messenger communications that contradicted her account of meeting one of the accused.
The court found that the Crown failed to prove exploitation, which was essential to the human trafficking and material benefits charges.
All counts against both accused were dismissed.
