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

Small businesses ask Liberals to extend benefits

Small businesses ask Liberals to extend benefits
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says sentiment in its monthly barometer from September showed the largest one-month drops since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.

Small businesses ask Liberals to extend benefits

O'Toole faces first caucus meeting post-election

O'Toole faces first caucus meeting post-election
Under legislation passed in 2015, each party's caucus is required to decide after an election whether it wants to empower its members to trigger a leadership review, which requires a written notice backed by at least 20 per cent of the caucus.

O'Toole faces first caucus meeting post-election

Helicopter crash in Killam Bay north of Vancouver

Helicopter crash in Killam Bay north of Vancouver
The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre confirmed Monday that the helicopter crashed at around 2 p.m. in the area near Killam Bay, at the entrance to Jervis Inlet, northeast of Sechelt.

Helicopter crash in Killam Bay north of Vancouver

1,986 COVID19 cases over 3 days

1,986 COVID19 cases over 3 days
There are 5,986 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 181,304 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 326 individuals are in hospital and 142 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

1,986 COVID19 cases over 3 days

Home demand still outstrips supply in Vancouver

Home demand still outstrips supply in Vancouver
Just over 9,000 condos, townhomes and single-detached homes were listed for sale in September and statistics from the board show 34 per cent of those changed hands.

Home demand still outstrips supply in Vancouver

VPD arrests suspect in Gastown crime spree

VPD arrests suspect in Gastown crime spree
Kevin Willard, 37, is now charged with one count of break and enter in relation to Sunday’s incident, while VPD investigates potential links with the other two break and enters.

VPD arrests suspect in Gastown crime spree