Article content

HALIFAX — A convicted human trafficker is facing new charges after allegedly threatening his “vulnerable, traumatized” teenage victim in full view of a Halifax courtroom.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or 'I’ll see you:’ Human trafficker charged again after making a shooting gesture at 15-year-old victim Back to video

Owen Gibson-Skeir, 21, mouthed “I’ll see you,” and made a shooting gesture with his hand at the 15-year-old girl in a Halifax courtroom Wednesday, Crown attorney Catherine Cogswell said Thursday.

Gibson-Skeir, the first person convicted of human trafficking in Nova Scotia, has now been charged with intimidation of a justice participant and uttering threats.

“We protect our witnesses. People that co-operate with the criminal justice system — in particular a vulnerable, traumatized child and her family — we take them very seriously,” said Cogswell.

The victim was 14 years old when Gibson-Skeir pimped her out at hotels and apartments in the Halifax area from January to March 2016. At the time, a police officer said she was one of the youngest girls forced into prostitution in Halifax in decades.

Gibson-Skeir took all the proceeds, beat her and had sex with her, Cogswell said.

He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and two human trafficking charges: exercising control and directing the movement of a child and materially benefiting from a child.