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The alleged victim came to Canada in 2008, and fled to a women’s shelter in June 2009.

Laurie Parker-Stuart, a counsellor at the shelter, described in B.C. Supreme Court meeting the alleged victim for the first time.

The victim “was very closed. She was under stress,” Parker-Stuart testified.

She had no passport, and did not appear to have any connection to anyone, she said, adding that the young woman spoke Swahili and broken English.

“[She] came with no money. She came with the clothes she wore. She really didn’t have anything,” Parker-Stuart said.

The shelter put her in touch with West Vancouver Police for help retrieving her passport and belongings, and Const. Kelly English testified that she went to the Ladha home. The passport was not there, she was told, and she went back the next day.

English described the home located in one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Metro Vancouver, overlooking the ocean. The home’s assessed value is listed at more than $4 million.

The officer was led to a room about one metre wide, located off the pool room on a lower floor. The room had a bathroom en suite and a cabinet with a television on top. There was no window.

They kept telling her to stop crying like a baby and to get back to work

English filled a garbage bag with clothing and shoes, and left behind enough to fill another garbage bag, she said.

Defence lawyer Tony Paisana asked the officer what she observed about the alleged victim when they first met.

“I recall she appeared to be in good health,” English testified.