Defence suggests human trafficking charges ‘revenge’ against Essa Township couple

The defence lawyer for an Essa Twp. couple accused of human trafficking suggested the complainant fabricated the allegations.

The trial of an Essa Township couple accused of labour trafficking a former lover resumed in Barrie Friday with cross-examination of the complainant by defence lawyers for Amber and Lauriston Maloney.

The complainant, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, faced questioning from defence lawyer Elliott Willschick, who suggested to the witness she only came forward to police alleging she’d been labour trafficked out of revenge against the Maloneys after their relationship ended on bad terms.

Willschick suggested the witness reported being human trafficked by the Maloneys to avoid punishment for committing fraud and lying about her employment status and qualifications to work as a therapist at Amber Maloney’s Beating the Odds centre for children on the autism spectrum located on their property in Utopia.

The woman told the court Lauriston Maloney told her to quit her minimum wage-paying jobs and take social assistance before moving in with the couple and working for them.

She said she entered a sexual relationship with the couple who then invited more women into their bedroom.

The complainant testified she became upset and felt excluded and was forced to compete for the Maloneys' affection and attention with the other women. She said she eventually left the relationship when a fifth person was added to the dynamic.

Willschick questioned the woman’s motivations. “You’ve made all of this up to get the jump on them,” he suggested. “You’re here to protect yourself because you don’t want to be convicted for fraud.”

The complainant claimed she was physically and verbally threatened by Lauriston, who had struck her in the past as they argued about adding other women to their relationship.

The complainant said she came forward to police because she was afraid of Lauriston as the Maloneys were threatening to report her for fraud.

She described doing whatever Lauriston and Amber demanded, including caring for their kids, cooking for them and making them drinks, alleging she was paid very little in return.

She admitted to joining the Maloneys on family trips and outings and driving their sports cars. Willschick suggested the complainant wanted to get back at the couple by making the allegations because all of the perks from living with them coming to an end.

“I did it out of survival. Because I didn’t have a choice. Because I didn’t want to get kicked out on the street,” she testified. “In my mind I thought I had been human trafficked.”

The defence is expected to continue its cross examination in two weeks.

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