Moncton sex trade workers upset at RCMP response to attack

Sex trade workers inMonctonare upset overthe way theRCMPis handling the investigation into the stabbing of a 24-year-old woman three weeks ago.

CBC News has learned the assault victimis a sex trade worker. Other women in the area involved in the trade arefearful because they say theattack occurred while the woman was working, andno arrest has been made of the man they say was looking for services.

Soon after the assault, CBC reported that police inRiverviewwereadvisingthe general public not to worry.

Wendy, a sex trade worker whose identity is being withheld by CBC News over concerns for her safety,said she and others were upset by the notion.

"We were livid when we heard that police were saying women in the general public needn't worry," said the 50-year old.

We are someone's daughter, mother, sister, or aunt and we are the general public too.- Wendy, Moncton sex trade worker

"We are someone's daughter, mother, sister, or aunt and we are the general public too," she added, her voice full of emotion.

Wendy says workers inMonctonare being more cautious when getting into vehicles andwatching each others' backs by ensuring other workers see them getting in a car.

Isolated Incident

Const.JulieRogers-Marsh, spokesperson fortheRCMPsays that the policeare taking the investigation seriouslyand that the decision not to warn the public generally was made because of the type of incident, not because of theindividualsinvolved.

"In this particular case, it was an isolated incident," said Rogers-Marsh. "We weren't investigating a rash of assaults," she said.

"Any assault, at any time against anyone is taken seriously by theRCMPand our investigators and we work on those files diligently," said Rogers-Marsh.

Victim attacked with knife

Wendy says that the victim is not talking much about what happened that night, but as far as she knows nothing seemed amiss when the victim got into a grey car on St. George St.. She sayswhen the "john" parked the car, things turned violent quickly.

"The [victim] asked for money upfront because that's what we normally do and he said no he had no money and she was going to do what he wanted," said Wendy.

"She said `Idon't think so' and he pulled out a knife and started slashing at her throat," she said.

Wendy says the woman was able to get out of the car and run for help,which came from a passing driver who noticed her distressed state.

She was taken to hospital and released after defensive wounds on her hands were stitched up.

Wendy says the woman is unable to identify her attacker.

The RCMPis seeking help from the public on the case, askinganyonewith information to call Police or Crime Stoppers.