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

Opioid crisis could worsen through 2022: modelling

Opioid crisis could worsen through 2022: modelling
In a statement released today, co-chairs Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Jennifer Russell said that the number of deaths and hospitalizations related to opioids remained high in the first half of 2021.

Opioid crisis could worsen through 2022: modelling

Some Tory and Liberal MPs want Bill 21 challenged

Some Tory and Liberal MPs want Bill 21 challenged
Federal parties and their MPs have spent the past week reacting to the law, known as Bill 21, which bans some public servants deemed to be in positions of authority, such as teachers, judges and police officers, from wearing religious symbols on the job.

Some Tory and Liberal MPs want Bill 21 challenged

BoC's Macklem vows clarity on inflation

BoC's Macklem vows clarity on inflation
Governor Tiff Macklem said the issue comes down to the trust Canadians have in the Bank of Canada to make sure the pace of price increases doesn’t run too high.

BoC's Macklem vows clarity on inflation

Avoid non-essential international travel: Ottawa

Avoid non-essential international travel: Ottawa
The federal government on Wednesday advised Canadians against non-essential international travel in an effort to protect against the Omicron variant, while Ontario and Quebec announced thousands of new COVID-19 infections.    

Avoid non-essential international travel: Ottawa

B.C. flood damage could worsen in spring: experts

B.C. flood damage could worsen in spring: experts
The engineers from the University of British Columbia shared their preliminary observations from November's floods today, with geotechnical engineer Jonathan Fannin warning that snowmelt in the spring could add pressure to already compromised dikes, highways and bridges.

B.C. flood damage could worsen in spring: experts

VPD releases surveillance images of homicide victim

VPD releases surveillance images of homicide victim
On December 10 at around 11 a.m., Vancouver Police were called after Justis was found deceased inside his home near West 3rd Avenue and MacDonald Street. Police believe he was killed the day prior.

VPD releases surveillance images of homicide victim