One expects this kind of activity from organized crime, but from teenage girls???
3 girls, two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old, face 74
charges in all
Three Ottawa teenage girls accused of forcing other teens
into prostitution return to court today as their trial resumes after a summer
break.
The trio, two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old, face 74
charges including human trafficking, forcible confinement and procuring for
prostitution.
A fourth teen girl faces similar charges involving one
incident, but her trial will be held at a later date.
Police allege the girls used social media to befriend and
lure nine girls, aged 13 to 17, to a home at a housing complex in southeast
Ottawa.
None of the accused or the nine victims can be named due to
provisions in the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
'I've been forced to do this'
Monday's testimony came from 41-year-old Ottawa taxi driver
Fazel Popal, who said he didn't have sex with a 13-year-old girl because she
told him she'd been forced into it.
Popal told the court one of the alleged ring leaders texted
him in June 2012 to tell him "I have a girl for you."
He said he picked up the three accused and one of the
victims, drove to a friend's apartment and received oral sex from the victim.
A few days later, Popal said, he got another call from an
accused and paid $50 to $70 for sex with another girl.
However, he said when she arrived her face went white and
she was shaking.
When he asked her what was wrong, he said she replied
"I'm not that type of girl, I've been forced to do this."
Popal said she offered to pay him $20 because she knew he'd
paid for sex, so he offered to drive her to her parents' house or a police
station.
He said she didn't want to, telling him she wanted to get
her purse and cell phone back from one of the accused.
The court has yet to hear from this alleged victim, which
the Crown said was 13 years old at the time.
Clients were told teens were 'pimps'
When the trial left off in early May, several clients
testified about their dealings with the accused during arrangements to have sex
with some alleged teen victims.
The men told the court the three accused had called
themselves "pimps."
Some of the alleged victims also detailed their experiences
in court where claims included verbal, physical and sexual assault from the
three accused.
There will be seven victims testifying in court out of the
nine total.
The trial is expected to last until November with Judge
Diane Lahaie presiding.
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