BARRIE, Ont. — Utopia couple Lauriston and Amber Maloney’s human-trafficking trial continued Monday in a Barrie courtroom.
The Maloneys have pleaded not guilty in a trial that started in October and has seen several stops and starts between courtrooms in Barrie and Bradford.
The Essa Township husband and wife were jointly charged in July 2023. Lauriston Maloney also faces an assault and forcible confinement charge.
The complainant in the case has testified that she was forced to work for little or no pay while helping the Maloneys in their business ventures, which included a facility for children on the autism spectrum that has since shut down.
The Crown called another witness on Monday who offered evidence in an attempt to corroborate some of the complainant’s earlier evidence.
The defence has countered that the woman willingly engaged in a personal relationship with the Maloneys and that her issue is more one of hurt feelings rather than being trafficked for cheap labour.
The complainant’s identity is protected by a publication ban.
The trial has been plagued by delays. Legal arguments and lawyer availability have been principally to blame, but it's scheduled to return to court on Tuesday.
The judge-alone trial was supposed to hear evidence for a full day last week, but lasted barely an hour, with little testimony heard, when it became clear it could not proceed without Amber Maloney’s lawyer, Elliott Willschick, who was required at another trial in eastern Ontario.
Both Lauriston and Amber Maloney are out on bail under strict conditions.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
