One half of a Melbourne couple charged after a woman was allegedly kept as a slave in their home has been acquitted following a judge’s ruling, a court has been told.

Angie Yeh Ling Liaw was facing trial in the County Court accused of assisting her husband Chee Kit “Max” Chong to keep the woman, who cannot be named, in slavery-like conditions.

But on Thursday morning, jurors were brought back into court as Judge Michael Cahill announced that he was discharging Ms Liaw while the case was proceeding against Mr Chong.

“Good morning members of the jury, I have told you previously there are two separate trials; one against Mr Chong and the other against Ms Liaw which are being heard together,” he said.

“Having considered all of the evidence in the prosecution case I’ve decided as a matter of law that Ms Liaw should be acquitted of the charge against her.”

Ms Liaw then left the courtroom with her lawyers as Mr Chong’s barrister, Diana Price, said her client would not take the stand nor call any evidence in his defence.

Jurors were told they will next hear closing arguments in the trial from prosecutor Shaun Ginsbourg SC and Ms Price.

At the start of the trial, Mr Ginsbourg told the jury that Mr Chong was charged with intentionally possessing a then-61-year-old woman as a slave and three counts of common assault.

He said the woman, who has since died for reasons unconnected to the case, was allegedly used a slave in the couple’s home from about February 2022 until she ran away in October that year.

It was alleged the woman was forced to sleep on the stairs or in the garage and subjected to food and sleep restrictions or physical assault if she did not complete her domestic duties to Mr Chong’s satisfaction.

“Mr Chong heavily controlled her life, including her freedom of movement, welfare needs, sleep food and medical care,” he alleged.

“By doing what he did, Mr Chong acted as if he owned [the woman].

“On one occasion, he told her that if she paid a million dollars she could leave, but otherwise she had to stay.”

In response, Ms Price said it was not disputed the woman lived with her client and would assist the family financially and with domestic chores.

But she said it was denied the woman was assaulted or kept in a slave-like condition and suggested she may have had reasons to lie or embellish her account to police.

“Even if you find she could have been treated differently, it doesn’t equal slavery,” she said.

The trial continues.

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