The human trafficking case against 27-year-old shopkeeper, Nadine Pitt, of Lawrence Tavern, St Andrew, was this morning put off to July 29 when she appeared in the Home Circuit Court.

The case was set for trial today, but the prosecutor informed the court that further investigations needed to be done.

Pitt, who is being represented by attorney-at law Peter Champagnie, is accused of harbouring a teenage girl and benefitting from money she received from prostitution.

The Crown is alleging that in 2004, a 13-year-old girl ran away from her home in the hills of St Andrew.

When she returned home four days later, she told her father that she was at Pitt's home.

In 2006, the girl ran away again and when her father and the police went to Pitt's home they did not find her.

The girl got pregnant in 2007 and when she went to the police to report a dispute between her and her boyfriend, it was discovered that she was a missing child.

On being questioned by the police, the girl allegedly said that from 2006 she had been living with Pitt.

The girl is alleged to have reported that Pitt had been sending her out to be intimately involved with men for money.

The girl allegedly said that when she returned home, Pitt demanded half of the money.

Pitt who is on bail was arrested and charged in July 2009.

radio@gleanerjm.com