A sex worker was told there was "bigger money" to be made in providing dominatrix-type services in the lead up to her alleged fatal encounter with a Brisbane man, a Cairns court has heard.
Madeleine Joan Lewin, 34, is accused of causing the death of Anthony Brady in a room at the Sunshine Towers Hotel in Cairns on the evening of August 12, 2020.
The court has heard she advertised sexual services online using the alias "Layla" in the weeks leading up to Mr Brady's death.
Prosecution witness Greg Giaquinto told the Supreme Court he also met "Layla" on three occasions as a client.
Their first meeting was for paid sex in June 2020, while their third encounter was at her room at the Sunshine Towers Hotel, where they discussed other services she could provide.
"I told her dominatrix and role playing, that's where the bigger money is in the sex industry," Mr Giaquinto told the court.
"Did you tell her why you knew that?" Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane asked.
"Because my ex-de facto … that was her thing," Mr Giaquinto said.
"That's what she did for a living and she made good money."
Crown alleges lack of care
Mr Giaquinto, whom Ms Lewin had nicknamed "Staten" as a nod to his origins on Staten Island in New York, said she seemed "interested" in the topic.
"Did she say anything to suggest she was already involved in that side of things?" Mr Crane asked.
"Not really, no," Mr Giaquinto replied.
The Crown has argued Ms Lewin was not experienced in practices known as BDSM, and failed to exercise the required care and skill to ensure Mr Brady's safety.
It is alleged Mr Brady met Ms Lewin at the hotel for paid sex and died of mechanical asphyxiation during a BDSM activity.
Ms Lewin, who is representing herself at trial in the Supreme Court in Cairns, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.
Jury shown graphic images
Images depicting the items found with Mr Brady's body and the manner in which he was restrained on the bed were shown to the jury.
The court heard Mr Brady was face down with a hood over his head, with a rope, a gag and collar in place that would have restricted his breathing.
Sergeant Amanda Milligan, a police forensic scientist who investigated Mr Brady's body at the crime scene, told the court some of the restraints were "very hard to remove".
The court heard Ms Lewin's snapped SIM card was also found in the hotel room.
She has so far declined to cross-examine any of the witnesses giving evidence at the trial.
The trial, before Justice James Henry, continues.
