Livia *, 17, was literally for sale. The teenager was forced into prostitution for days in a downtown Montreal hotel, under the yoke of two armed pimps, before being rescued by the Tactical Intervention Group (GTI). A shocking testimony from a sex slave.
“Steve offered a lot of money, he wanted to buy me dear, $ 5,000, $ 10,000. I would have worked when he wanted, as he wanted, ”she told the police in a video statement presented Wednesday at the trial of Steve Bédard and Benjamin Dion. The two young men are accused, among other things, of trafficking in minors and procuring.
The complainant, now an adult, is conspicuous by her absence at the trial. The vulnerable young woman is even targeted by an arrest warrant because of her refusal to testify. This is why the Crown is trying to have her statement admitted to the police in August 2019. During the first hour of her statement, Livia is very reluctant to confide in the investigator. She especially does not want to see her pimp, Steve Bédard, alias “Stevo” at trial.
“I don’t want to see it! Never never ! I don’t want him to see me! », She gets carried away. “I’m putting my life in danger,” she repeats, distraught, as the investigator tries to convince her to confide.
According to her story, Livia had a real ordeal two years ago. The teenager claims to have been repeatedly raped by Steve Bédard and Benjamin Dion. The teenager would have been subjected to sordid sexual abuse, including the use of a pistol, according to her statements.
In August 2019, Livia found herself sequestered in a hotel in downtown Montreal where she had to prostitute herself repeatedly. ” In the hotel, [Steve Bédard] told me: you don’t get out of there until Saturday. You do your shift, ”Livia tells the policewoman. “It’s kidnapping because he didn’t want to let me out,” she adds.
Videos on social media showing Livia in trouble allowed police to rescue the teenager. But this one almost never was rescued. “He wanted to take me to Edmonton,” she explains. At the hotel, police arrested the two men and seized handcuffs and a dummy gun.
Steve Bédard also wanted to “buy” Livia, she said. “He wanted long-term investments,” explains the teenager. “Ben said: it is not for sale”, according to Livia, who defends the accused Benjamin Dion on several occasions in his statement.
Earlier in the trial, Steve Bédard and Benjamin Dion pleaded guilty to possession, production and distribution of child pornography, as well as an advertising executive for providing sexual services in the case of Benjamin Dion. “Well, he was just posting the ads and posting the photos,” Livia said. The teenager had to give all her earnings to Steve Bédard.
Note that Steve Bédard is currently detained, while Benjamin Dion is at large.
The trial continues Thursday.
Me Antonio Parapuf and Me Claude Berlinguette-Auger represent the prosecution.
* Fictitious name