Saturday, July 4, 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

Anti-Gang Task Force investigation of Brothers Keepers Gang highlights involvement of Punjabis

Anti-Gang Task Force investigation of Brothers Keepers Gang highlights involvement of Punjabis
Several people have been arrested and charged with numerous criminal and drug related offences after a 3-year-long investigation by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) into a prominent and violent gang highlighting involvement of Punjabis.   

Anti-Gang Task Force investigation of Brothers Keepers Gang highlights involvement of Punjabis

Mink farming phase out planned in B.C to curb COVID19 transmission

Mink farming phase out planned in B.C to curb COVID19 transmission
Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham announced Friday a permanent ban on breeding mink. Live mink will also not be allowed on the province's nine farms by April 2023, and all operations must cease completely and have all their pelts sold by 2025.

Mink farming phase out planned in B.C to curb COVID19 transmission

Climate pledges risk making Canada 'outlier': CAPP

Climate pledges risk making Canada 'outlier': CAPP
Tim McMillan says that as Canada increases its environmental ambition at events such as this week's climate conference in Scotland, the federal government must work harder to bring the rest of the world along.

Climate pledges risk making Canada 'outlier': CAPP

B.C. woman who killed teen back on day parole

B.C. woman who killed teen back on day parole
Kelly Ellard, now 39 years old and the mother of two children, has returned to day parole after the privilege was revoked in August for what a Parole Board of Canada decision says were indications of drug and alcohol use.

B.C. woman who killed teen back on day parole

Pfizer says COVID-19 pill cut hospital, death risk by 90%

Pfizer says COVID-19 pill cut hospital, death risk by 90%
Currently most COVID-19 treatments require an IV or injection. Competitor Merck’s COVID-19 pill is already under review at the Food and Drug Administration after showing strong initial results, and on Thursday the United Kingdom became the first country to OK it.

Pfizer says COVID-19 pill cut hospital, death risk by 90%

Economy created 31K jobs in October, StatCan says

Economy created 31K jobs in October, StatCan says
Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate would have been 8.7 per cent in October, down from 8.9 per cent in September, had it not included in calculations Canadians who wanted to work but didn't search for a job.

Economy created 31K jobs in October, StatCan says