Tuesday, December 30, 2025
ADVT 
National

Crown begins closing in B.C. extortion trial

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Jul, 2022 12:25 PM
  • Crown begins closing in B.C. extortion trial

Crown and defence counsel have finished calling evidence in the British Columbia Supreme Court trial for the Dutch man accused of harassing and extorting teenager Amanda Todd before she died a decade ago.

Aydin Coban pleaded not guilty at the jury trial in New Westminster to charges of extortion, harassment, communication with a young person to commit a sexual offence and possessing child pornography.

Crown attorney Kristen LeNoble began closing arguments by telling jurors she would spend the next few days helping them "unpack" the evidence, including testimony from more than 30witnesses and binders full of 80 exhibits.

By the time the Crown is finished, LeNoble says they will have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Coban was the person behind 22 separate online aliases used to harass and extort Todd with child pornography that depicted her.

LeNoble says Todd's harassment began just before her 13th birthday when she received a message that threatened to send a video of her to friends, family and local media.

Crown prosecutor Louise Kenworthy told the jury at the start of the trial last month that the teenager from Port Coquitlam, B.C., had been the victim of a persistent campaign of online "sextortion" over three years before her death in October 2012.

Carol Todd testified that her daughter was scared when she brought messages to her mother's attention, and Amanda's distress increased with each incident.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2022.

MORE National ARTICLES

No parking for splitter at legislature: trial told

No parking for splitter at legislature: trial told
The purchase of the splitter and a trailer are key elements in the case against former legislature clerk Craig James, who's accused of misspending public money.

No parking for splitter at legislature: trial told

B.C. Liberal asks court to delay leadership result

B.C. Liberal asks court to delay leadership result
Bajwa, a longtime party member and former Surrey mayoral candidate, wants the court to delay announcing the winner of the leadership vote for 15 days in order for the party to provide more details about the audit results and process.

B.C. Liberal asks court to delay leadership result

Significant seizure of guns, drugs, cash and luxury vehicles: Coquitlam RCMP

Significant seizure of guns, drugs, cash and luxury vehicles: Coquitlam RCMP
In September 2020, Coquitlam RCMP received information about an alleged drug trafficking network that prompted the Coquitlam Drugs and Organized Crime Section to start an intensive, in-depth investigation. After a thorough multi-jurisdictional investigation, police obtained seven search warrants that were executed between April and December of 2021.

Significant seizure of guns, drugs, cash and luxury vehicles: Coquitlam RCMP

Canada in talks about adding forces to Europe

Canada in talks about adding forces to Europe
Yet even as the United States became the latest NATO member to commit more forces to the region with the deployment of 3,000 additional troops to Europe, Anand is declining to say when a Canadian decision could come.

Canada in talks about adding forces to Europe

Police expect resurgence in Ottawa protest

Police expect resurgence in Ottawa protest
The police chief said he knows people in Ottawa want to see more enforcement from police officers as protesters continue to cause gridlock in the downtown core near Parliament Hill and put a significant burden on residents and business, many of which have had to shut their doors.

Police expect resurgence in Ottawa protest

Possible contenders for Conservative leadership

Possible contenders for Conservative leadership
Erin O'Toole has been voted out as leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. A look at some potential contenders to replace him. Rona Ambrose- a cabinet minister in the Conservative government of former prime minister Stephen Harper who became interim leader after he lost the 2015 election. 

Possible contenders for Conservative leadership