A young woman is testifying in court to support her brothers, accused of abducting her from her workplace. She describes the events leading to the incident, clarifying that her actions stemmed from fear of a past harasser. Despite the chaos captured on surveillance footage, she insists her brothers had her best interests at heart and that her alarm was misinterpreted. The trial continues under Judge Thierry Nadon as the family seeks to reconcile after the incident.
Teenager Testifies in Favor of Brothers Accused of Abduction
A young woman, who was reportedly taken against her will by her brothers from the restaurant where she was employed, has chosen to support them during their trial. She asserted that there was a significant misunderstanding, claiming that her brothers had her best interests at heart.
Clarifying the Events
During her testimony at the Montreal courthouse on Monday, the alleged victim explained her actions leading up to the incident. “When my brothers arrived, I started to run because I spotted a man who had previously harassed me entering the restaurant. I felt nervous and anxious, which made it hard for me to speak,” she detailed.
Impeccably dressed in her hijab, the young woman aimed to help acquit her two brothers, who face charges related to her alleged kidnapping in the summer of 2021. At that time, she was only 16, which limits the disclosure of her identity and that of her brothers.
Characterizing herself as a rebellious teenager, she revealed that her lifestyle choices, such as smoking, vaping, and skipping school, led to a rift with her brothers, to the extent of blocking them on social media platforms. Eventually, she secured a job at a restaurant on the west side of the island, where her brothers’ friend spotted her one evening, prompting them to intervene.
Surveillance footage captured the moment of chaos, showing her panicked escape towards the back of the restaurant as a confrontation erupted between her brothers and her colleagues. “She was running, and her brother was pursuing her; they were pushing each other, and she was calling for help,” the teenager recounted, indicating her state of distress.
A significant police operation was launched, culminating in the brothers dropping her off near a police station, leading to their arrest on charges including confinement, abduction, threats, and assault.
Despite the initial turmoil, the young woman appears to have reconciled with her family since the incident and is eager to support her brothers. She explained that her alarm was primarily due to the presence of a harasser from the past year, asserting that when she reached for her phone, it was due to a “communication problem” rather than an attempt to signal for help.
Concerning the altercation involving one brother and a restaurant staff member, she suggested that any injuries sustained were possibly related to her kickboxing classes. “[The accused] were not forcing me; there were no restrictions on how I dressed, nor issues with boys,” she emphasized, offering a rationale for the events that had transpired.
The trial, overseen by Judge Thierry Nadon, is set to continue this afternoon.