More complainants are reporting in the human trafficking case in Halifax

Two more people have come forward claiming to be victims of human trafficking involving three men from Halifax, bringing the total number of complainants to eight.

Crown prosecutor Josie McKinney said on Tuesday that the alleged victims range in age from their early teens to their early twenties, and she said most of them are young people.

The case against Adam Ray Greenlaw, 40, Shane Jason Mahar, 49, and Richard Walter Beaver, 33, was heard in Nova Scotia Provincial Court in Halifax Tuesday morning.

Beaver is still in the process of finding a lawyer, so the cases were postponed until next month. He and Mahar are free under conditions.

Greenlaw has agreed to remain in prison for the time being. He appeared via video link from prison. Beaver appeared in person while Mahar was represented by his lawyer.

The charges against the three include trafficking a person under the age of 18. Greenlaw’s faces a whole host of other costs including assault, sexual interference and assault with a weapon.

Police first learned of the allegations in January. The alleged crimes cover a period from May 2021 to April this year.

“Human trafficking cases are usually quite complicated,” McKinney said out of court. “But especially given the huge number of complaints and the number of complainants, I expect it to be quite complex.”

She would not say what the connection is between the three men, but said the Crown plans to conduct only one trial.