'She was crying': Calgary liquor store employee helped save sex trafficking victim, court hears

When a young woman ran barefoot into a Calgary liquor store in December 2017, wearing only a tank top and crying, Haoyu Jiang called 911 and bought her a mini bottle of vodka to help calm her down.

"She was really really scared," said Jiang, a former employee of Liquor Central in downtown Calgary. "She was crying and I was really scared because she asked me for help to call 911 and I don't know what's happening."

Jiang testified Tuesday on Day 2 of Jessica Vinje's trial.

What the liquor store employee didn't know at the time was that KM — whose identity is protected by a publication ban — had just escaped five days of captivity from the apartment building across the street where she was forced to have sex with men.

Vinje, 30, is facing charges of of human trafficking, forcible confinement, sexual assault and assault. Two teens have already pleaded guilty to offences related to KM's confinement. 

Surveillance video from the downtown liquor store was played in court showing KM running into the shop and then hiding under the counter at Jiang's feet on Dec. 13, 2017.

• Sex trafficking victim 'feared for her life' while being held captive for 5 days in Calgary apartment

The liquor store was across the street from the York apartment building on Fifth Avenue S.W.

KM had been working as a prostitute when she answered an ad and agreed to meet a man at the York apartment building on Dec. 8, 2017.

Once there, she was led to a third floor apartment and a gun was used to force KM inside. She was beaten and held captive for the next five days. She was forced to have sex with strangers for money — money that was paid to Vinje, said prosecutor Donna Spaner.

On Dec. 13, 2017, KM noticed the apartment was quiet. She realized everyone was asleep and used the opportunity to escape.

The apartment was leased under Vinje's name and it was her brother who moved her furniture after charges were laid. 

But in cross-examination of the property manager, defence lawyer Rebecca Snukal pointed out that the apartment employee had never met Vinje and had no idea if she had ever stayed in the unit.

Two videos played in court on Monday showed the victim performing sexual acts on an unknown man. The videos were found on the cellphone belonging to one of the teens who was charged. 

People on the video can be heard taunting KM and laughing. Det. Scott Mizibrocky identified one of those featured on the video as Vinje.

Vinje's trial is set to last two weeks.