Tuesday, July 7, 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

Single vehicle collision claims lives of 2 UBC students

Single vehicle collision claims lives of 2 UBC students
The driver of the vehicle, a 21-year-old male of Vancouver came to a stop after striking a parked car. He was arrested at scene, taken to a local hospital for minor injuries, later released, and will appear in court at a later date.

Single vehicle collision claims lives of 2 UBC students

MPs' $3.3 million 'golden goodbyes'

MPs' $3.3 million 'golden goodbyes'
51 MPs, who lost their seats or decided not to stand again, qualify for a severance cheque worth half their salary — some $92,900 or more if they were a cabinet minister or chaired a committee.

MPs' $3.3 million 'golden goodbyes'

Direct passenger flights from India resume

Direct passenger flights from India resume
In a post on Twitter, Transport Canada says direct flights from India can land in Canada, but travellers must have a negative COVID-19 test from an approved laboratory at the New Delhi airport no more than 18 hours before their departure.

Direct passenger flights from India resume

Meng decision, two Michaels not linked: WH

Meng decision, two Michaels not linked: WH
Press secretary Jen Psaki says the U.S. Department of Justice is an independent agency and reached the decision to pursue a deferred prosecution agreement with the Huawei executive on its own.    

Meng decision, two Michaels not linked: WH

Poll suggests vaccine tensions high in Canada

Poll suggests vaccine tensions high in Canada
The survey found vaccinated people consider the unvaccinated as irresponsible and selfish, a view contested by those who are not immunized. Some members of the latter group have been staging demonstrations outside hospitals and schools in recent weeks to protest vaccine passports and other public health measures.

Poll suggests vaccine tensions high in Canada

Businesses, schools and cities to observe Sept. 30

Businesses, schools and cities to observe Sept. 30
The House of Commons unanimously supported legislation in June to make Sept. 30, also known as Orange Shirt Day, a federally recognized holiday to mark the history of and intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools. The statutory holiday applies to all federal employees and workers in federally regulated workplaces.

Businesses, schools and cities to observe Sept. 30