Judge in teen prostitution case says reporters can tweet from court

OTTAWA – The judge in the trial of three teenage girls accused of running a prostitution ring has ruled that reporters can tweet from the courtroom.

The ruling comes a day after a ban on sending emails or tweets from Quebec courts went into effect.

Judge Diane Lahaie says she will issue reasons for her ruling later.

Reporters covering the sensational trial are being told they must provide their names and their reasons for tweeting and sign authorization documents to be provided later, spelling out restrictions on what may be transmitted.

The three teens are accused of luring other girls through Facebook and other social media to a housing complex in southeast Ottawa where the victims were allegedly coerced with drugs, alcohol and violence into working as prostitutes.

Defence lawyers are cross-examining Ottawa police Det. Carolyn Botting, the main investigator in the case.