By The Canadian Press

CALGARY

Calgary women accused of holding sex slave hostage found not guilty human trafficking, forcible confinement

Oct 28, 2019 | 4:48 PM

A Calgary woman who was accused of holding a sex slave hostage in her downtown apartment for five days has been found not guilty of human trafficking and forcible confinement.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Scott Brooker did convict Jessica Vinje of assault.

The accused testified during her trial in July that she met the complainant, identified only as KM, in December 2017 through a mutual friend.

Vinje told court that KM asked that same day whether she could use Vinje’s apartment to meet potential escort clients because she needed to make money.

Vinje admitted that her apartment was often used as a flop house and that she punched KM on one occasion, when a teen at the apartment said KM had offered to exchange a sexual favour for drugs.

KM testified she endured days of torture, was repeatedly assaulted and forced to have sex with strangers.