VANCOUVER - A B.C. man convicted of human trafficking over the alleged treatment of his Filipinio nanny has been awarded a new trial after winning an appeal.

Franco Orr was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in jail in 2013 for human trafficking, illegally employing a foreign national and lying to immigration officials.

He was charged along with his wife, who was acquitted after the couple's jury trial.

Orr filed an appeal, arguing the trial judge was wrong to allow the testimony of an expert witness and that it was unreasonable for the jury to convict him and acquit his wife.

A three-judge B.C. Appeal Court panel concluded the jury should not have heard the expert witness and has ordered a new trial.

The court rejected Orr's argument that he and his wife should not have had different verdicts.