A former football player at Concordia University was found guilty of human trafficking and pimping on Tuesday, after notably collecting up to $ 1,800 a day from a young Montrealer who offered sexual services in spas and hotel rooms , in Montreal and Toronto.
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“Not only did the accused control the movements [de sa victime], he also controlled his personality. In her words, she would have done everything to please him,” summed up Judge Josée Bélanger before declaring André Bryan Rose guilty at the Montreal courthouse.
The Ontarian met the one who would become his victim in a Montreal bar in 2010. At that time, he was studying sociology at Concordia University, where he also played football. He had also moved to Montreal after receiving a scholarship to play on the university team.
The woman, who was 19 at the time, fell in love “at first sight”, she testified at trial.
They initially had a friendly relationship, which later developed into a romantic relationship over a period of approximately eight years.
It was during a conversation on the Skype application, in the spring of 2013, that Rose began to hint at sexual services that she could offer in spa and massage salons. The now 31-year-old man had dangled the idea that they would both become rich.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
Vulnerable
At first, she refused the offer. Then, she finally changed her mind and she accepted out of love and in order to please him.
” [La victime] was vulnerable because of her great love for the accused. By insisting on her, who was in a vulnerable position, he exerted an influence on her and encouraged her to prostitute herself,” lamented Judge Bélanger.
During their relationship, Rose manipulated her and threatened her to continue prostituting herself, the judgment details. For example, when the victim tried to get rid of the claws of his pimphe complimented her on returning to him.
If she wanted to continue seeing him, she had to bring him some money. At one point, Rose even set a goal of earning her $1,000 a day, the victim said.
During a seven-month period in 2015, she earned between $300 and $1,800 a day. Sometimes, when she didn’t bring home enough money at the end of a day, Rose got mad at her.
The young woman had to work six days a week and her only leave was “one day for maintenance” for her manicure, her hair and her eyebrows. She even recounted the time she had to return to work two days after having her tooth pulled, while she was still bleeding.
Rose nicknamed her “Brinks” because she brought in so much money. This is in reference to a truck that carries money. Moreover, the accused had a machine to count the bills he pocketed from prostitution.
Threat to kill her
When she finally managed to leave Toronto in February 2018, he made death threats to her. “I’m going to come to Montreal and kill you,” he told her in a phone conversation.
Judge Josée Bélanger believed the victim’s version, even if her testimony was not perfect, she pointed out. The Ontarian was thus found guilty of a host of charges, including pimping, human trafficking, death threats and assault.
Visibly upset, he told the Court that he was “pissed off” by the verdict. His case will return next September for sentencing.
Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com