Chantel Brittnay Robertson, 20, was last seen alive June 28th, 2008. Her body was discovered two days later, buried in a shallow grave in a back yard. She had been strangled to death.
Robertson was Edmonton's thirteenth homicide victim of the year.
Matthew Todd Barrett, 24, was charged with first-degree murder and offering an indignity to a body.
first court appearance |
remembrance and vigil |
escort or prostitute?
the Global Edmonton TV interview |
fundraiser and funeral
Denis Fitzpatrick Huggins |
second court appearance
preliminary hearing waived
The story of Chantel Brittnay Robertson's murder unfolded slowly during the first heatwave of 2008.
It had been six weeks since Edmonton recorded its last homicide, and the heat was on for police in temperatures that matched 100-year records.
The thirteenth homicide investigation of the year began as an unusual and high profile missing person report.
Robertson was last seen in the early morning of Saturday, June 28th, 2008. Police described her as an "escort" in their initial media alert – see below.
At around 2:30 a.m. Robertson was dropped off by her driver at a client's residence at 9853 80 Avenue. She did not show up for her scheduled pick-up time and was not seen or heard from since.
Police spoke to the residents of the house she last visited and they also checked with family and area hospitals.
Project KARE was notified but Edmonton police led the investigation. A city police spokesman said the task force had been notified for several reasons.
"First of all there is the high-risk lifestyle that she has led. But there are also a number of other things including that fact she doesn't have her cellphone on – that's very unusual for her.
"As well she didn't show up for her regular work at the scheduled time this [Sunday] morning."
Police also said it was unusual for her not to be in contact with her family and this behaviour was out of character for Robertson.
According to neighbours interviewed by media, screaming and fighting could be heard from the 80th Avenue house at about the same time Robertson was there – read more »
One resident said the three young men living at the home at the time were seen moving some belongings into the back of a truck.
Friends of Robertson started knocking on doors in the area. Her roommate visited a neighbour across the street, telling her the escort agency couldn't get in touch with Chantel.
"And it really seemed like the roommate was so worried. She's obviously really well-loved and someone's really missing her. I hope that everything works out ... but I guess it doesn't bode well," Whitney said, observing an increasing police presence.
"When the pick up service from the escort [agency] came to collect her from the house, the resident wouldn't open up the door all the way and said that she just left home or left early.
"On Sunday morning at 10 o'clock there was other people moving in. But they only did the one load that I saw so maybe they found something," Tushingham noted.
Mel told the Edmonton Journal he was watching television Sunday at about 12:30 a.m. when a man came to his door and asked if he knew where the neighbours across the street were. The man said he was looking for a girl he had dropped off there.
Mel told the man the neighbours had moved out earlier that day and the man left his number.
"He said, 'if you see those guys show up tomorrow, you give me a call,' " Mel said.
"He was very concerned, he was genuine," said Moravec, who believes he was the one who reported Robertson missing.
Neighbours of the house on 80th Avenue had mixed impressions of the three 20-something men who lived there. Some said they've had nothing but problems from at least one of them.
Speaking to the Edmonton Sun, Debbie Moravec said there were garbage problems and noise issues, and the residents were often rude to other people.
Brian Mimeck said one of the residents would often park where he wasn't supposed to and when asked to move his vehicle he got rude.
"He was really nasty and inconsiderate to other people," he said.
Living across the lane, Dennis Thompson said he often saw Barrett in the alley working on cars.
"They used to have girls around the house, but I never saw escorts or anything out of the ordinary until now," he said.
However, the guys had at least one fan on the block.
"Very nice guys, very nice guys, yeah. I've got no complaints at all," Jack Waldner said.
"Very nice guy, in fact he said he was moving ... he got a better spot," Jack added. "He didn't like this place anymore. I talked to him Thursday."
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Chantel's associates set up a page on Facebook, a popular internet social networking site, to help spread the word of her disappearance.
On Monday, June 30th, after search warrants were obtained, police returned to the home where Roberston was last seen.
Another house, at 9347 72 Avenue, which the occupants of the first home were moving to, was also searched.
"You can expect a police presence there well into the evening," said a police spokesman.
Don and Rose Metz, who lived across the street, had observed their new neighbours moving in.
"When I saw them taking their stuff in I said, 'Oh I sure don't like the looks of them.' Then I find out all this," Rose said.
By mid-afternoon on Monday, police said several people had been interviewed and one man in his 20s was taken into custody.
Police then said they believed Roberston was the victim of foul play.
"They're considering that possibility," said a police spokesman.
Forensic officers worked the first house behind crime tape that stretched around the block – view images »
Castings were made of shoe impressions left in the back yard.
By 6:00 p.m. Monday, staff from the medical examiner's office removed a body from the house where Roberston was last seen. It had been exhumed from the rear of the property.
Homicide detectives were then put in charge of the case.
The Facebook page was the first to post news that Chantel's was the body recovered.
By late Monday evening police confirmed the deceased individual was Chantel Brittnay Robertson. Detectives had already told Chantel's father, Michael, that his daughter had been murdered. Michael and his family had flown in from Fort McMurray as soon as Chantel was reported missing.
An autopsy was scheduled for later in the week.
By the time the 11 o'clock news rolled around, media confirmed that the city had recorded its thirteenth murder of the year and that 24-year-old Matthew Todd Barrett had been charged with first-degree murder and offering an indignity to a body.
Police said Barrett was living at the home where Robertson was found. News cameras located the spot where her body was found – view images »
Investigators figured Robertson's body was buried in the side yard late Saturday evening and that her murder had been contemplated in advance.
"It is believed that this murder did happen not long after she had arrived. At this time it looks like the body was then buried within the evening hours, night time hours – before the morning," a police spokesman said.
"First-degree murder implies that there was some planning – pre-meditation."
No further charges against Barrett or others were anticipated. Forensic staff returned to the scene on Canada Day.
First court appearance
Court-watchers got their first glimpse of the man accused of the city's latest murder when he made a brief appearance on July 2nd, 2008.
Matthew Todd Barrett, tall, lean and dressed in prison garb, appeared exhausted. With his head hung down, his face was hidden by thin, collar-length hair. While stealing a glance at his supporters in the gallery, his face revealed a two-day stubble.
As Barrett had appeared in court without a lawyer, the presiding judge adjourned the case to July 9th, 2008 to give him time to engage legal counsel.
A plea on the charge of first-degree murder was expected at his next appearance.
Outside the courthouse a man who identified himself as Matthew's father offered no comment to media as he left the building.
But after CTV Edmonton's David Ewasuk dogged the man he offered a brief comment, handing the reporter a written document (Ewasuk likely thought he was being served with a restraining order – for more, see the Ewasuk watch).
"It hurts, what goes on in society," said Mr. Barrett, who refused to give his full name. "What led my son to that point and led that girl to that decision of action. It's sad.
"We're concerned for the Robertson family and we're concerned for Todd. There's grieving on both sides."
The Barrett family issued a public statement – read more »
Note: certain portions of the statement, which may be legally contentious, have been removed.
FAMILY STATEMENT
On behalf of
MATTHEW TODD BARRETT
CHANTEL BRITTANY ROBERSTON
The pain that we have experienced these past two days has been incomprehensible. We have been trying to come together as a family. We can not believe that something like this would ever happen to any family, let alone the Robertson family and our family. We, express our deepest sympathy at this time of great sorrow. We too grieve for the family of Miss Robertson and we plan to support our son the best we can. It has been very difficult these past days and it will remain unbelievably difficult for years to come.
The Edmonton Police Services has been most helpful and it would be a great miss not to thank them for what they have and are doing. Their task too is a heavy one.
Both families have Moms and Dads, brothers and sisters, grandparents, nieces and nephews and numerous friends, all who have been affected by what has happened. Our thoughts and prayers go to each one of them.
Thank you for your consideration of the privacy for both families during this difficult time.
Please, allow us the time to come together so as a family we can find some solace as we support each other. We ask that in your prayers you petition the God of our creation to comfort each one of us and to help us all.
Thank you.
Later on July 2nd, CTV Edmonton's cameras returned to the home on 80th Avenue and caught up with the two men Matthew Todd Barrett lived with. One man didn't appreciate the scrutiny.
"What do you think you're here for," he said. "You're here to cause problems for both families. Just get out of here, man."
CBC Edmonton also tried to speak with the residents of the house, referred to as brothers of the accused.
"I have nothing to say. It's very painful ... that's it ... for both families," came a voice.
On July 3rd, 2008 the medical examiner announced that Robertson had been strangled to death.
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Remembrance and vigil
Family and friends learned of Chantel's death Monday afternoon, June 30th.
"We're all pretty shaken," said Kris, whose girlfriend set up the Facebook page.
Early on, he and his friends all shared the same suspicion: that something untoward had happened to Chantel.
"She was always in contact with her mom – weekly if not every other day," Kris said.
Robertson's cellphone was possibly turned off during her date, he speculated.
"That's the girls' lifeline ... having that off signifies a big problem, a very big problem."
Kris said he used to drive for Robertson when she worked as an escort for 3-10-Girl (see below). She usually stayed just half an hour to an hour with a client.
A driver was an escort's one security measure, Kris said. "They're all alone. Drivers are not supposed to go anywhere."
Kris described his friend as a "soft-spoken, kind of quiet girl."
On her Facebook page, Chantel described herself as easy-going and generous, a girl who couldn’t live without her family and who dreamed of going to college. She was remembered by family and friends at a roadside vigil – read more »
Exactly 72 hours after Chantel was last seen, a vigil was held in front of the house where she was found buried. A police car parked a few feet away cast dramatic shadows over the gathering.
At 2:15 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1st nearly two dozen people stood out front holding flowers, photos and candles which they placed against a tree still tethered with police tape.
Michael Robertson, Chantel's father, had flown in from Fort McMurray when she was first reported missing. He passed out white candles as he led a remembrance.
Robertson said he wanted his daughter to be known for who she was and not what she did.
"What she did didn't make her the worst person," he said, his voice shaking despite the heat of the night.
Chantel was accepting and loving, Michael said, and she was willing to give everyone a chance to be themselves.
"She didn't discriminate. She didn't care if you were different," he said.
Michael said Matthew Barrett's family had offered an apology to his family.
"It wasn't their fault, for what he has done," he said. "He took a very good, special person from us."
Younger brother Dakota, 19, said when he made known his homosexuality Chantel was the first person he told. He knew she would accept him, no matter what.
"My sister made me the person I am today, caring, considerate," Dakota said. "She refused to judge people."
He remembered that his older sister loved to joke around and tease him. In spite of her small stature – she was just 5-feet 2-inches – she was tough, often acting as his protector at school when others picked on him.
"She was one of the toughest people I knew," Dakota said. "The day I was able to pin her was the proudest day of my life ... she meant everything to me."
Friend Ivanka Arar remembered that Chantel loved travelling, snowboarding and going on road trips with friends. She also had an affinity for white tigers, impressed by their majesty and beauty.
"She had planned to get a tattoo of a white tiger, but unfortunately she didn't get it," said Arar.
At the close, Michael thanked police and Chantels' many friends who helped in the search for his daughter.
"I'd like to thank those of you who worked with police to bring this to a swift, quick end," he said. "It's not what we wanted, but at least it's not going to go unsolved down the road."
He then shook hands with everyone gathered.
"I'm sorry I don't know you all, but before you leave, I'd like to meet you and see the kind of friends she had," he said.
In the days after the moonlight vigil, friends and associates left candles and cards at the site.
Even complete strangers came by to offer their respect. An online memorial for Chantel Roberston can be seen here.
Ivanka Arar, who was close to Chantel, spoke at length to media about her friend – read more »
"I'm traumatized, I can't believe it," Arar said. "You have a friend you spend time with, you go places together, and laugh and have phone calls to ... and not being there anymore.
"It makes me sad to wonder what was going through her mind when it was happening to her.
"Chantel never deserved what she got. She had her own lifestyle, but it didn't make her a bad person.
"It didn't really sit well knowing how they left her. I don't think anyone deserves to be buried in the ground in an indecent way. They found her beside the garage, and she was there for two to three days." Arar said.
Ivanka met Chantel in September 2007. The woman had only been in Edmonton a few months, having just moved with her parents and younger brother from Ontario, she said.
Chantel was working as a housekeeper at a hotel and had been taking night classes. She had talked about becoming a pilot in the military.
Arar said her friend hardly ever went to the bars and she never touched drugs.
"They say 99.9 per cent of escorts use drugs, but she was in that 0.1 percentile."
Arar remembered Chantel as bright and caring.
"She is really going to be missed ... by so many people. This is very overwhelming.
"I was emotional last night when I went to see the [Canada day] fireworks. I just kind of imagined her standing beside me with my arm around her thinking, 'You know what, you should have been watching those too.' "
Arar said Chantel had just bought a plane ticket to go back to Ontario in July to visit friends and relatives.
"Like I said this whole thing is a surprise to a lot of people."
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Escort or prostitute?
It was reported that Chantel worked for JUICE (Just Us Independent Canadian Escorts) for most of the past year. The agency had assigned women to the address before, some as recently as a week prior to Robertson being sent there, and that there had never been any problems. A representative for the service declined comment when reached by phone – see below.
Readers of the www.cbc.ca/edmonton media site took issue with the term "escort" when it was used to describe Robertson's trade. The term was used by police in their initial news alert.
During the Thomas Svekla trial, his Aboriginal victims were described by news outlets as "prostitutes" and comment posters felt the moniker to be dehumanising, saying their lifestyle had nothing to do with their fate.
However, one reader pointed out that if a plumber was killed on the job, his occupation would be germane to the story.
Popular use of the terms suggest escorts are "inside workers" as opposed to prostitutes who work the streets.
Whether Robertson was an escort or a prostitute held little for those working with women in the sex industry – read more »
"Lots of people think that it's not prostitution, that it's something better than that," said JoAnn McCartney, a former vice cop who now counsels sex trade workers as a member of Prostitution Awareness and Action Foundation of Edmonton (PAAFE).
"The only person who decides if an escort lives or dies is the customer."
"I think there used to be a misconception that the inside workers were more safe that the girls on the street, and the last two murders I understand were of woman who worked inside," said Kathy King, acting executive director of PAAFE.
King was likely referring to Brianna Danielle Torvalson and Leanne Lori Benwell.
Torvalson, 21, was found dead February 21st, 2008 on a remote acreage west of Elk Island National Park and about 20 kilometres northeast of Sherwood Park.
Benwell, 27, was found dead June 21st, 2007 near Highway 795 and Township Road 470, between the town of Calmar and Pigeon Lake, 68 kilometres south of Edmonton. She was last seen alive by her mother on March 12th and was reported missing April 15th.
Both cases remain unsolved.
King was concerned about a "myth" that people who work "inside" were safer than street prostitutes. While Robertson had a driver who was supposed to stay in touch with her, King pointed out that wasn't enough to keep her from dying.
"It was safer in that there was that network, and yet he was unable to save her from her fate that night," she said. "It just shows that there's no safety when you have men who are exploiting women."
King is the mother of Cara King.
Cara's body was found in a canola field near Highway 214 and Highway 16 near Sherwood Park on September 1st, 1997. She was 22.
Carol-Lynn Strachan, a sex trade worker advocate, said most escort services have safety procedures in place to minimize risk, such as calling an escort five minutes before she's due to finish with a client. A "no answer" usually means trouble.
Strachan said cases like Robertson's could be avoided through quicker police response, noting Edmonton police waited 24 hours before they began their investigation into her disappearance.
"When a girl doesn't call out, there is something seriously wrong, and you have got to get in there," she said.
However, according to University of Alberta criminologist Bill Pitt, women in the sex trade often drop out of contact for brief periods of time – making it difficult for police to investigate.
"The cops can't go chasing after every missing (escort)," Pitt told the Edmonton Sun. "A lot of them go missing for short periods."
Pitt also said that despite Robertson's death, people will continue to be attracted to the sex trade, as both workers and clients, because of its seductive mix of sex and money.
"There's lots of money, it's very lucrative," he said, adding that many women with personal problems become escorts without being aware of the risks.
"Not only are they sexually addicted," Pitt said. "They just don't know what they're getting into."
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According to friends, Robertson previously worked for Personal Touch 310 Girl, which billed itself as "Alberta’s most prestigious service, catering to gentlemen whose high standards are exceeded only by our own."
The Edmonton Journal spoke to a co-worker of Chantel's who blamed her driver for leaving after he dropped her off.
"Drivers are supposed to be there. They are not supposed to leave," said the woman, who asked not to be named. She said that Robertson's driver was also the escort agency's owner.
"It's not right how he does things," she said. "If he had stayed, he would have heard her screaming. She would have put up a fight."
The driver likely had to pick up another woman, she guessed.
Chantel was introduced to the industry by a friend, she added, and had worked as an escort for less than a year.
"She was not a stereotypical escort; she was a person who had goals," the woman said. "This was just another ladder for her to get to where she wanted to be."
"People get complacent," said JoAnn McCartney, a former vice cop who now counsels sex trade workers.
"People need to remember that this is dangerous. It's not an easy-money, viable option for women to pay their way through school. It's not a safe business, and they can't make it safe unless the girl doesn't go on any calls."
An escort for five years, the woman the Journal spoke to said she wanted out of the industry.
"I don't want to work anymore. It's too dangerous. A lot of the other girls are stopping, too."
The feeling was echoed by an escort interviewed by CTV Edmonton.
"It could have been me on the call, it could have been one of my best friends on the call. It could have been anyone from any agency," the woman said, her voice altered.
She too said Chantel's death had prompted her to consider leaving the escort business.
"It's scary and it makes me not want to do it. Obviously it makes me re-think my job and where I'm going."
The woman had a warning to those in the business: "You're never safe. It doesn't matter what kind of life you have or who you work for ... you're never safe."
On July 3rd, 2008, the Edmonton Sun posed an online poll.
The one-day voluntary poll allowed only one response per computer.
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The Global Edmonton TV interview
Chantel Robertson was born in the United States. She grew up in Ontario and went to high school in Niagara Falls before moving to Edmonton in 2006 where she planned to attend the University of Alberta.
But it appeared she never planned to tell her family that she was supporting herself as a sex trade worker. Her parents were shocked by the news – read more »
On July 2nd, 2008 Global Edmonton aired an exclusive and highly emotional interview with Chantel's father Michael and her stepmother, Rhonda Verge.
"We've lost a daughter, other parts of us a sister ... and her grandparents have lost their baby," Michael said through tears.
"She was just such an inspiration to a lot of people because she was who she was. She brought out the best in people and she always just saw the good in people no matter who she was with."
The grieving couple spoke of facing the reality their daughter sold herself.
"She was afraid to tell us. She was afraid we would hate her," Rhonda offered.
"It still doesn't change who she was ... she's still our daughter. We still love her," Michael said. "Her brothers still love her, her grandparents still love her."
Reflecting on pictures of Chantel's childhood, her parents spoke of her growing up and her love for sports. Playing goal, she was nicknamed 'The Beast.'
Chantel was described as the glue that held her family together and that she was loving and always put others before herself, a quality and trust that may have ultimately put herself at risk.
Chantel's stepmother spoke of her loss.
"I was always Momsy – never Mom – always Momsy," Rhonda said. "I never gave birth to her but the four years I was with her were the most beautiful years of my life."
"We're going to have to find out what it is to say goodbye. I'm not ready to do that yet. I mean, raising her, protecting her, being there as all parents are for their kids," Michael said.
"All sons and daughters ... their somebody's. And to have to say goodbye ... it's not supposed to work that way."
The family planned to hold a memorial in Edmonton before returning home with Chantel's ashes.
Fundraiser and funeral
As Chantel's family was preparing for her funeral came word that friends of hers had planned a fundraiser to help defray funeral costs and to set up a charity in her name – read more »
"It's hard to let go," a tearful Michael Robertson said the day before the service.
"As we get closer, we find we break down more often. There can be a time you think of a funny moment, or someone will call and you stop and remember her."
A bikini car wash, a silent auction and a 50/50 draw were planned to be held at Doc's Pizza & Bar on Stony Plain Road.
"With being a friend of ours, and we knew all the girls who are friends that she worked with, we wanted to help out because she was an extremely good person and we felt what happened to her was wrong," Amanda Hammer-Neigel, owner of Doc's, said.
"We're trying to help out her family as best we can."
While the memorial was to be held at Hainstocks Funeral Home, friends of Chantel would be "celebrating her life, not her death" washing and washing down with some suds.
"We've known Chantel for a few years," Amanda said. "She was a very good patron of ours. She was a friend of mine and my husband's. We really wanted to do something for her."
While the idea of an escort-run bikini car wash might seem a bit unusual considering the circumstances, Amanda said she wasn't concerned.
"I've had no negative reaction at all. As far as I'm concerned anyone and everyone is welcome at my establishment. Bikini car washes go off all the time in the city. It doesn't matter what your career is. To me it's a way to help fundraise," she said.
If Chantel could be there she would enjoy every minute of it, she added. "I think she would've been in her glory. If she were here she would be dancing."
The Edmonton Sun posed the question of the bikini car wash to its online readers.
The one-day voluntary poll allowed only one response per computer.
Local businesses donated about $15,000 worth of clothes, bath products and footwear for the auction.
Those who couldn't attend could still contribute at any ATB Financial branch: account number 129921201, transit number 07759.
On Saturday, July 5th dozens gathered at Hainstocks Funeral Home at 9810 34 Avenue for Chantel's memorial. A Facebook invitation sent out had requested that no one wear black.
After the service had finished, the car wash got underway – read more »
Pastor Gary McKellar reminded family and friends to hang on to the good memories they have of Chantel.
"Remember her as she was, full of life, strength and energy," he said. "Death, especially in someone so young, is always hard to understand."
Chantel's father, Michael, recalled the day she was born.
"Instead of being sad, if you could remember March 1st, that's the day our lives started to improve," he said.
"She has touched us all. If you can hold on to that, that's yours to keep forever," Michael said. "We're not judgmental of you, we don't want you to be judgmental of yourselves."
Ivanka Arar, a close friend, remembered she was close to her family.
"She spoke very highly of her dad, her dad was her world. They are a very loving family who stick together."
The friend said that regardless of what Chantel did in her life, she was still a person who deserved to be treated with respect.
"The more I speak the more it hurts," Ivanka said, "knowing she can't hear the good things I have to say about her. No matter what she did, good or bad, it didn't change the person."
Pastor McKellar thanked everyone for attending, adding the family appreciated their sympathy.
"They truly appreciate it," he said. "They have suddenly found themselves in the toughest and darkest days of their lives."
Michael concluded the ceremony by thanking everyone for the kindness his family had received from the community.
Favourite songs of Chantel's were heard during the service, including Changes by Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne, Candle In The Wind by Elton John and Rod Stewart's Forever Young.
After the service, the car wash got underway.
Friends hoped to raise $10,000 to offset funeral costs and to set up a charity to support female hockey players.
"I just wanted to help the family in their time of need," Kristina Hay said.
"She meant a lot to us. This is to show our support and our love to her family of how much she really did mean to us."
Chantel's family dropped by the bar for a short time before the car wash started and gave their blessing to the fundraiser, Kristina said.
"They are overwhelmed by the support," she added.
"It very important to show that just because of what job you do you're still a human being and that you need respect from the community," Amanda said.
"There was no need for what happened to her."
While the cost for a wash was $10, many donated between $60 and $100. "I've also just had people come in and donate money," Amanda said.
Chantel's remains were to be flown out and buried in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Another service was to be held there.
"They will even have an honourary baseball game for her," Michael said.
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Denis Fitzpatrick Huggins
The escort agency Chantel Robertson worked for became the focus of media coverage in the days after she was found buried in the yard of a client's home.
The Edmonton Sun searched court and bylaw records and uncovered 22 alleged violations against agency owner Denis Fitzpatrick Huggins and a numbered company, 252528 Alberta Inc. – read more »
Beginning in 2004, court records indicated the company was fined for allegedly violating advertising regulations that require the license number to be included in advertising. Huggins was also fined.
Huggins was fined $2,500 for allegedly providing introduction services to an unlicensed escort. The fines total $12,000.
The violations were being appealed and were to be heard in court on September 4th, 2008.
Phil Fearon, the city's chief licensing officer, said the escort licence was in Huggins' name, but the term JUICE – Just Us Independent Canadian Escorts – is used for advertising.
Most of the complaints originated from inside the escort industry, David Aitken, the city's director of bylaw enforcement, told the Sun.
There were a number of unpaid fines, Aitken said, which were to be paid by July 9th or Huggins could face a hearing that has the power to remove his licence.
CBC Edmonton reported that Huggins used to own JUICE and it is no longer registered with the city. It is still operating, however, with the phone number on the website still allowing orders to be placed for escort service.
Huggins started a new service, which is registered with the city, and was listed as operating out of the TD Tower downtown.
With the business operating in the same complex as the CBC studios, it gave reporter Briar Stewart easy opportunity to try her hand at some ambush journalism.
"I was looking for Denis," she said as she opened the door.
"Duncan?" asked a startled employee. "There is no Denis here." A woman then emerged from the back of the office.
"He's been borrowing some space to have a computer here but he's not here," she said.
"Does he still borrow that space?" Stewart asked.
"Ahh ... we don't have the computer here anymore right? Remember that special computer?" the woman asked a co-worker.
"No, we don't have it," he said.
When the CBC tried several times to speak with Huggins by phone, he simply hung up.
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Second court appearance
On July 9th, 2008 Matthew Todd Barrett appeared in a Court of Queen's Bench courtroom with defence lawyer Naeem Rauf beside him.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Wheaton told the court the Crown has only just begun to receive information about the investigation from police. A delay was requested so that the information could also be forwarded to Barrett's defence.
The matter was then put over until August 8th, 2008 when a plea was expected.
Barrett appeared uncomfortable as he sat in the prisoner's box. His hands remained folded and he occasionally glanced out at his family in the front row of the gallery.
There was an unusual moment of drama after the hearing when one of two women thought to be taking pictures of Barrett with their cellphones was challenged by court sheriffs.
Photography is forbidden inside the courthouse, and the sheriffs were alerted when friends of Chantel Robertson tried to use the camera feature on their phones.
One of the women was questioned outside the courthouse and she admitted she tried to take Barrett's picture. She was unsuccessful and showed the sherriff her cellphone.
The woman later described Barrett as "very scrawny," adding to her belief he must have had help committing the crime he's accused of.
Sheriffs refused comment and it was not known if the other woman was able to photograph Barrett.
Also refusing comment was Barrett's father. He declined to speak with media and left the courthouse holding hands with another supporter.
On August 8th, 2008 Matthew Todd Barrett's next court appearance was put over until September 8th, 2008. No details were provided.
Preliminary hearing waived
On January 7th, 2009 Barrett was back in Court of Queen's Bench and surprised those in attendance by waiving his right to a preliminary hearing.
Preliminary hearings are held to determine if there is sufficient evidence to warrant a trial. If the hearing is waived, the matter before the court proceeds directly to trial.
With long brown hair hiding most of his face, Barrett said nothing during the brief session. Outside court, defence lawyer Naeem Rauf said little more.
"We're at a very delicate stage right now," he said.
No plea was entered, and Barrett was scheduled to next appear in court on February 20th to set a trial date. There was no indication if the trial would be heard by a jury or judge alone.
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