Wednesday, July 8, 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

Justin Trudeau's Liberals win second minority

Justin Trudeau's Liberals win second minority
Late Monday, Justin Trudeau's Liberals were leading or elected in 157 seats — exactly the same number they won in 2019, 13 short of the 170 needed for a majority in the House of Commons.

Justin Trudeau's Liberals win second minority

Special prosecutor named after mayor's complaint

Special prosecutor named after mayor's complaint
The BC Prosecution Service says Juk concluded a special prosecutor was needed in light of allegations made by Mayor Doug McCallum amid ongoing public discussions about the RCMP in Surrey being replaced by a municipal police force.

Special prosecutor named after mayor's complaint

New travel rules ignore Canada-U.S. border ban

New travel rules ignore Canada-U.S. border ban
Air travel to the U.S. from Canada has never been restricted, and it's not yet clear whether the new vaccination rules will be imposed on Canadian passengers when they take effect. The rules at the Canada-U.S. border have also allowed trade and essential workers to move between the two countries unfettered.

New travel rules ignore Canada-U.S. border ban

Elections Canada reports disruptions at some polls

Elections Canada reports disruptions at some polls
While the majority of polling stations opened on time and without incident, Elections Canada spokeswoman Diane Benson says issues have been reported with several sites in Ontario and Western Canada, resulting in some stations opening late or having to be relocated.

Elections Canada reports disruptions at some polls

1,692 COVID19 cases over 3 days

1,692 COVID19 cases over 3 days
There are 5,608 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 171,769 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 307 individuals are in hospital and 156 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

1,692 COVID19 cases over 3 days

Five Arrested After Chief Del Manak Assaulted At Chantel Moore Memorial

Five Arrested After Chief Del Manak Assaulted At Chantel Moore Memorial
The woman assaulted Chief Manak after a blanketing ceremony by pouring a liquid on him. She then moved away from the area. Chief Manak, who was attending the memorial at the invitation of Chantel Moore’s mother, was not physically harmed. The assault was captured on video.    

Five Arrested After Chief Del Manak Assaulted At Chantel Moore Memorial