Monday, July 6, 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

Civil servants, air, rail workers must get vaccine

Civil servants, air, rail workers must get vaccine
The federal government announced Wednesday public servants must attest they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 29, or be put on unpaid administrative leave.

Civil servants, air, rail workers must get vaccine

Review of COVID care home outbreaks coming in B.C.

Review of COVID care home outbreaks coming in B.C.
Recent data posted by the province's Centre for Disease Control says there were 368 COVID-19 outbreaks at B.C. care facilities from January 2020 to September 2021 and 1,092 deaths of residents.

Review of COVID care home outbreaks coming in B.C.

Fatal shooting in Surrey leaves one dead, IHIT investigating

Fatal shooting in Surrey leaves one dead, IHIT investigating
An adult victim was found with gunshot wounds, but died of their injuries at the scene. No details have been released about the victim.

Fatal shooting in Surrey leaves one dead, IHIT investigating

Shooting in Richmond

Shooting in Richmond
Police officers began to engage with the individual and shots were fired by police. Police provided medical assistance and EHS was called to the scene. The man was transported to hospital in serious condition.

Shooting in Richmond

593 COVID19 cases for Tuesday

593 COVID19 cases for Tuesday
There are 5,937 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 182,045 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 345 individuals are in hospital and 144 are in intensive care. 

593 COVID19 cases for Tuesday

Vaccine could be condition of federal employment

Vaccine could be condition of federal employment
Several unions have raised concerns about how the government intends to verify employee vaccine status, and Aubry said he also wants to know how that confidential health information will be stored.

Vaccine could be condition of federal employment