Monday, March 30, 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

B.C. surgery backlog almost gone: health minister

B.C. surgery backlog almost gone: health minister
British Columbia's health minister says the province has almost caught up with the backlog of surgeries from the pandemic and weather events while it sets new targets to whittle down the existing waiting lists. Adrian Dix says 400 nurses and 100 technicians had received training under the surgical renewal program to bolster staffing.

B.C. surgery backlog almost gone: health minister

Child sexually assaulted by their male piano teacher, Kelowna RCMP investigating

Child sexually assaulted by their male piano teacher, Kelowna RCMP investigating
Police say in a news release that Neil Wong, also known as Nein-Nein Wong, offered private piano lessons in his home and online, but the total number of his students is not known.

Child sexually assaulted by their male piano teacher, Kelowna RCMP investigating

Pharmacare should start with birth control: NDP

Pharmacare should start with birth control: NDP
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the government should launch pharmacare with free access to birth control, including the morning-after pill. Reproductive health has been in the spotlight since a leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion revealed national abortion rights could be rescinded in that country.    

Pharmacare should start with birth control: NDP

No foul play suspected in cadets' deaths: CAF

No foul play suspected in cadets' deaths: CAF
The department said the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, the local military police detachment and police in Kingston, Ont., where the college is located, are supporting an ongoing coroner's investigation into the incident.

No foul play suspected in cadets' deaths: CAF

Man passes away after being hit by a truck in Delta

Man passes away after being hit by a truck in Delta
This incident does not appear to be criminal in nature. The male unfortunately has passed away as a result of his injuries. Delta Police are currently working on conducting a next of kin notification

Man passes away after being hit by a truck in Delta

Chief Superintendent Dave Chauhan officially begins his role as Officer-in-Charge of Richmond RCMP

Chief Superintendent Dave Chauhan officially begins his role as Officer-in-Charge of Richmond RCMP
Prior to assuming his role as Officer-in-Charge of Richmond RCMP, C/Supt. Chauhan was the acting Officer-in-Charge of the Lower Mainland Integrated Teams which included IHIT, the Integrated Emergency Response Team, Integrated Forensic Identification Service, Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service, and the Integrated Police Dog Service.

Chief Superintendent Dave Chauhan officially begins his role as Officer-in-Charge of Richmond RCMP