Wednesday, July 1, 2026
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

Survey suggests importance of diversity at work

Survey suggests importance of diversity at work
The survey by the Canadian Hub for Applied and Social Research at the University of Saskatchewan was done by phone between Dec. 1 and Dec. 24. It asked 1,000 people about equality, diversity and inclusion in workplaces and government.

Survey suggests importance of diversity at work

Critics call for feds to boost health capacity

Critics call for feds to boost health capacity
Health experts and government critics are calling on the prime minister and premiers to fix cracks in Canada's health system and improve surge capacity as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Critics call for feds to boost health capacity

As storm outages fixed in B.C., new tempest looms

As storm outages fixed in B.C., new tempest looms
BC Hydro says service was restored to the northwestern Vancouver Island villages of Tahsis and Zeballos late Sunday after more than 700 customers lost heat and electricity last Tuesday.     

As storm outages fixed in B.C., new tempest looms

Federal scholarships to honour Flight 752 victims

Federal scholarships to honour Flight 752 victims
The program is expected to disburse scholarships worth an average of $25,000 to 176 students — the same as the number of people who were aboard Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 when it was hit by two missiles launched by Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Jan. 8, 2020.

Federal scholarships to honour Flight 752 victims

B.C. school opening vital for students: top doctor

B.C. school opening vital for students: top doctor
Getting kids back to school is "essential," says British Columbia's top doctor as she and the education minister laid out plans for keeping students safe while COVID-19 infections surge. Dr. Bonnie Henry said Friday that schools need to remain open for the emotional, physical and intellectual well-being of children.

B.C. school opening vital for students: top doctor

3,144 COVID19 cases on Friday

3,144 COVID19 cases on Friday
There are 33,184 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 240,198 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 349 individuals are in hospital and 93 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

3,144 COVID19 cases on Friday