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

Debate: Leaders spar over climate, foreign policy

Debate: Leaders spar over climate, foreign policy
Right off the bat, the role of the moderator, Shachi Kurl, came under fire, with Blanchet taking umbrage at what he termed her suggestion that Quebec is racist.

Debate: Leaders spar over climate, foreign policy

Leaders back on the hustings after two debates

Leaders back on the hustings after two debates
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was early out of the gate on Friday morning, holding a news conference in Ottawa to tout his party’s platform before flying to British Columbia where he was scheduled to vote in advance polls on the first day they open.

Leaders back on the hustings after two debates

Campfires once again permitted in much of B.C.

Campfires once again permitted in much of B.C.
The BC Wildfire Service says campfire prohibitions are being removed across the entire Kamloops Fire Centre and in the Boundary fire zone of the Southeast Fire Centre.

Campfires once again permitted in much of B.C.

Afghan Olympian urges Canada to help refugees

Afghan Olympian urges Canada to help refugees
Rezayee, who made history as one of Afghanistan's first two female Olympians in 2004, now lives in Vancouver. She founded Women Leaders of Tomorrow to support women and girls in Afghanistan through education and athletic opportunities.

Afghan Olympian urges Canada to help refugees

774 COVID19 cases for Thursday

774 COVID19 cases for Thursday
There are 5,594 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 164,470 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 262 individuals are in hospital and 130 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

774 COVID19 cases for Thursday

COVID-19 vaccine benefits society: B.C. minister

COVID-19 vaccine benefits society: B.C. minister
Adrian Dix says the province is reviewing "all options" when it comes to limiting protests outside of hospitals. Dix says ignoring scientific facts, evidence and data and refusing the vaccine only hurts the wider population.

COVID-19 vaccine benefits society: B.C. minister