National

Crown seeks 12 years for Amanda Todd harasser

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Oct, 2022 09:41 AM

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. - A Dutch national returns to British Columbia Supreme Court as his multi-day sentencing for child sexploitation resumes.

The Crown is seeking a 12-year prison term for 44-year-old Aydin Coban, who was convicted in August of several offences related to an unrelenting online attack aimed at Port Coquitlam teen Amanda Todd.

She endured three years of online stalking and abuse as Coban hid behind aliases and threatened and blackmailed her, before she took her own life in 2012 when she was 15.

Coban was not charged in connection with the death, but the Crown has told his hearing that the sextortion scheme was "morally repugnant," he refuses rehabilitation, is at a high risk to reoffend and must be separated from society for a lengthy period.

Any sentence could be added to 11 years Coban is already serving in the Netherlands for similar offences, and the Crown is recommending the Canadian sentence be served after the Dutch penalty ends.

Crown counsel Louise Kenworthy says Coban's defence lawyer plans to ask that any Canadian punishment be served at the same time as Coban completes his Dutch term.

The sentencing hearing is expected to continue all week in New Westminster.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Long lineup in London as queen lies in state

Equipped with sleeping bags, books and backpacks of food, they formed a queue that was nearly four kilometres long as of 6 p.m. local time. With Westminster Palace silhouetted across the river, people waited patiently as the line wound its way past the London Eye and across Lambeth Bridge.

Long lineup in London as queen lies in state

Northeast B.C., blaze scanned to confirm perimeter

The B.C. Wildfire Service says the scan was done late Tuesday. It will also be used to identify hot spots on the east flank of the 287-square kilometre wildfire, nearest to the W.A.C. Bennet Dam and the evacuated community of Hudson's Hope.

Northeast B.C., blaze scanned to confirm perimeter

Man fatally shot in Burnaby, B.C., attack

A statement from Burnaby RCMP says the attack happened just after 11 p.m. Tuesday along a busy stretch of Hastings Street near Confederation Park. The unnamed victim died at the scene.

Man fatally shot in Burnaby, B.C., attack

Reward doubled to $500K for B.C. gondola vandalism

It comes as RCMP reveal more details about their investigation and share a photo of a suspect who may have been responsible for cutting the cable on the Sea to Sky Gondola twice, in 2019 and 2020.

Reward doubled to $500K for B.C. gondola vandalism

Schools not to blame for high COVID rates: doctor

Dr. Bonnie Henry has been criticized by some parents, advocacy groups and health-care professionals who say a major jump in infections occurred during the school year among children under age 10.

Schools not to blame for high COVID rates: doctor

B.C. shuts schools, gives workers day off Sept. 19

A statement from the province says it's a national day to reflect on the "incredible life of Canada's Queen and the longest-serving monarch in British history." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared that Monday will be a holiday for federal government workers to mourn the Queen on the day of her state funeral.