Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
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

Rising costs threaten some Canada Day parades

Rising costs threaten some Canada Day parades
Canada Day celebrations are making a return after two years of scaled-down festivities because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but some Canadians hoping to catch a traditional parade may be out of luck. Several cities say the rising cost of security and insurance, in addition to troubles securing funding, is forcing them to rethink their celebrations.

Rising costs threaten some Canada Day parades

Police remain on scene of deadly bank shooting

Police remain on scene of deadly bank shooting
Both suspects were shot and killed as police responded to the robbery and six officers were wounded. Chief Const. Dean Duthie says two officers were seriously hurt and underwent surgery late Tuesday.

Police remain on scene of deadly bank shooting

Canada settles with Purdue over opioids

Canada settles with Purdue over opioids
The province launched a class-action lawsuit in 2018 against more than 40 drug companies on behalf of all federal, provincial and territorial governments with the aim of recovering health-care costs for the "wrongful conduct of opioid manufacturers, distributors and their consultants."

Canada settles with Purdue over opioids

Staying Cool and Safe this Summer

Staying Cool and Safe this Summer
With summer officially here and temperatures warming up, the City of Surrey has tips on how to stay safe in extreme heat, how to spot the signs of heat exhaustion, and where to find public pools, spray parks and air-conditioned civic facilities for heat relief.

Staying Cool and Safe this Summer

Mayor McCallum delivers on his commitment to PICS Society to rename 175A Street to ‘Guru Nanak Village Way’

Mayor McCallum delivers on his commitment to PICS Society to rename 175A Street to ‘Guru Nanak Village Way’
The name change was approved by the City Council on Monday, June 27th 2022 and the new commemorative sign will be installed in both English and Punjabi, on the corner of 64 Avenue and 175A Street in July 2022.  The date for the unveiling ceremony will be announced in due course.

Mayor McCallum delivers on his commitment to PICS Society to rename 175A Street to ‘Guru Nanak Village Way’

B.C. Premier John Horgan to resign in the fall after leadership review

B.C. Premier John Horgan to resign in the fall after leadership review
British Columbia Premier John Hogan says he'll resign after the New Democratic Party holds a leadership review in the fall. He says he is cancer-free and continue to serve in the role of Premier til a new Premier is found. 

B.C. Premier John Horgan to resign in the fall after leadership review