Wednesday, December 24, 2025
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

B.C. documents outline decision to rebuild museum

B.C. documents outline decision to rebuild museum
The Opposition Liberals have called the proposed replacement a "billion-dollar vanity project," and Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon says he will cancel the rebuild if elected premier in 2024.    

B.C. documents outline decision to rebuild museum

Court date for man after Victoria airport scar

Court date for man after Victoria airport scar
A statement released Wednesday by Cpl. Andres Sanchez says the RCMP were called when an airport security employee became concerned upon finding the first bag with two items that appeared to be "incendiary devices."

Court date for man after Victoria airport scar

Coquitlam RCMP warns of online rental property scams

Coquitlam RCMP warns of online rental property scams
In one situation, the victim reached out to the person who posted the ad and sent a deposit and half a months rent through e-transfer without ever viewing the rental suite. When the victim attended on the move in date she realized the property was not for rent and contacted police.

Coquitlam RCMP warns of online rental property scams

Early morning shooting results in one man being injured

Early morning shooting results in one man being injured
Ridge Meadows RCMP Serious Crimes Unit are still in the evidence gathering stage of the investigation, however this incident does not appear to be random.

Early morning shooting results in one man being injured

176th Street re-opened in Surrey after serious collision

176th Street re-opened in Surrey after serious collision
Due to the serious nature of the collision 176 Street was closed in both directions between 88 Avenue and 96 Avenue but has since re-opened. The investigation is in the early stages. 

176th Street re-opened in Surrey after serious collision

Trudeau on Texas massacre: 'All of Canada grieves'

Trudeau on Texas massacre: 'All of Canada grieves'
Trudeau says all of Canada is grieving the tragedy, which unfolded Tuesday afternoon in Uvalde, Tex., a community of 16,000 just west of San Antonio.

Trudeau on Texas massacre: 'All of Canada grieves'