Thursday, January 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

Alex Fraser and Patullo bridges could possibly close with more snow in forecast

Alex Fraser and Patullo bridges could possibly close with more snow in forecast
Under normal conditions, the ministry uses a cable-collar system to remove snow that builds up on the cables of the Alex Fraser and Port Mann bridges so traffic can safely pass. However, high winds can increase the shedding of snow and pose a risk to the rope technicians. This prevents them from deploying the system.

Alex Fraser and Patullo bridges could possibly close with more snow in forecast

3,798 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

3,798 COVID19 cases for Wednesday
There are 29,967 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 237,195 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 317 individuals are in hospital and 83 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

3,798 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

Air Transat won't allow Sunwing partiers to board

Air Transat won't allow Sunwing partiers to board
Videos of the Dec. 30 Sunwing private charter flight shared on social media show passengers not wearing masks as they gather in close proximity, drinking alcohol and vaping in the aisle and on seats.

Air Transat won't allow Sunwing partiers to board

Bring back hazard pay for supermarket workers: MP

Bring back hazard pay for supermarket workers: MP
The federal NDP's critic for economic development has written to the heads of Canada's biggest supermarkets asking them to restore "pandemic pay," which was brought in after COVID-19 first struck and then cancelled.

Bring back hazard pay for supermarket workers: MP

Iran snubs another deadline in PS752 crash

Iran snubs another deadline in PS752 crash
All 176 people on board died, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents, along with nationals of Britain, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Sweden.

Iran snubs another deadline in PS752 crash

Canada's vaccine donations moving slowly

Canada's vaccine donations moving slowly
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is "continuing to do more than our share" on vaccine donations but because no vaccines are yet made in Canada, there is not much the country can do to speed up donations.

Canada's vaccine donations moving slowly