Close X
Friday, September 20, 2024
ADVT 
National

Amanda Todd's mom urges more jail time for tormentor, as Dutch court mulls sentence

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Dec, 2023 10:50 AM
  • Amanda Todd's mom urges more jail time for tormentor, as Dutch court mulls sentence

The mother of B.C. teenager Amanda Todd, who was bullied into suicide by a Dutch national, says she'll be "so angry" if a court in Amsterdam doesn't give him significant extra jail time on the basis of his Canadian conviction last year.

Judges at the Amsterdam District Court said earlier today they would rule in two weeks on the conversion of the 13-year sentence for Aydin Coban, who was convicted of the extortion and harassment of Amanda.

Mother Carol Todd, who's in Washington, D.C., to speak to a group campaigning against child exploitation, says the Dutch process is part of a "never-ending story," a remark echoing a message held up by Amanda in a YouTube video describing her ordeal before she died in 2012.

She says the timing of the latest hearing, a week after Amanda's birthday, has been difficult, but she will continue to raise awareness of online predators driven by "a mother's love and a mother's passion" to keep other children safe.

Coban was already serving an 11-year Dutch sentence for cyberbullying more than 30 other victims when he was sent to Canada to stand trial in the Todd case, on the condition he serve any sentence in the Netherlands.

Coban's lawyers say he should get no extra time in a Dutch prison for the Todd case, while prosecutors say Coban should serve about 4 1/2 years of his Canadian sentence in the Netherlands.

The Canadian sentence must be converted in order to conform with Dutch rules.

Coban blackmailed 15-year-old Amanda to expose herself in front of a webcam. She took her own life after recounting her ordeal in the YouTube video that has been watched by millions around the world.

Earlier this year, the Amsterdam court said it needed more information from Canadian authorities before converting the sentence. That information was added to the case dossier but not explained in Thursday's hearing.

Coban was not in court for the brief hearing where his lawyer, Robert Malewicz, told a three-judge panel his client should get no extra time, but if they disagree, they should impose a maximum sentence of one year, with half the sentence suspended.

The Amsterdam court said it would deliver its sentencing judgment on Dec. 21. It can be appealed in the Dutch Supreme Court.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Lawyer in Ali murder trial says 13-year-old B.C. victim was not an 'innocent'

Lawyer in Ali murder trial says 13-year-old B.C. victim was not an 'innocent'
Ibrahim Ali's lawyer says the 13-year-old girl he's accused of murdering in a British Columbia park wasn't the "innocent" depicted in a "rose-coloured" portrayal by the Crown at trial. Kevin McCullough told the B.C. Supreme Court jury in his closing arguments that the version of the girl's lifestyle presented by the Crown is "at best, a partial picture" or "at worst, a lie."  

Lawyer in Ali murder trial says 13-year-old B.C. victim was not an 'innocent'

IIO investigating death of man at Abbotsford Regional Hospital

IIO investigating death of man at Abbotsford Regional Hospital
B-C's police watchdog has been called to investigate the death of a man who police say was threatening staff at Abbotsford Regional Hospital with a weapon. Police in the Fraser Valley city say officers responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a man in possession of a weapon at the hospital yesterday afternoon. 

IIO investigating death of man at Abbotsford Regional Hospital

Unemployment is trending upward across much of Canada, but Province says the labour force remains steady

Unemployment is trending upward across much of Canada, but Province says the labour force remains steady
Unemployment is trending upward across much of Canada, but B-C's government says the provincial labour force remains steady.  Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey says Statistics Canada labour force survey shows B.C. gained nine thousand jobs last month.

Unemployment is trending upward across much of Canada, but Province says the labour force remains steady

Kamloops crash kills university student

Kamloops crash kills university student
Mounties in B.C.'s southern Interior say they're investigating a multi-vehicle crash that killed one person who's been identified as a university student. A statement from Kamloops RCMP says emergency responders were called to the crash at the intersection of McGill Road and University Drive just outside the Thompson Rivers University campus around 3 p.m. Thursday. 

Kamloops crash kills university student

Flu season officially in Canada

Flu season officially in Canada
The Public Health Agency of Canada says flu season is officially underway in this country.  The rate of tests that were positive for flu stayed above the agency's threshold of five per cent for two consecutive weeks.  

Flu season officially in Canada

B.C. urges people to prepare for atmospheric river bearing down on south coast

B.C. urges people to prepare for atmospheric river bearing down on south coast
A bulletin has been issued warning residents in south western British Columbia to prepare for an atmospheric river bearing down on the area. The statement from the Ministry of Emergency Management says Environment Canada is forecasting a series of storms bringing heavy rain until Thursday, with a peak expected on Tuesday.

B.C. urges people to prepare for atmospheric river bearing down on south coast