B.C. judge sentences ‘sextortionist’ to 13 years in Amanda Todd case
Article content material
NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — The person who tormented British Columbia teenager Amanda Todd earlier than she died by suicide has been sentenced to an unprecedented 13 years in jail by a choose who branded him an “web sextortionist.”
Commercial 2
Article content material
Justice Martha Devlin of the B.C. Supreme Courtroom mentioned Friday that Aydin Coban’s calculated conduct brought on the woman psychological anguish and social isolation, contributing to her suicide after he advised Todd he would damage her life.
Article content material
The sentence is longer than the 12 years recommended by the Crown, however Devlin mentioned Coban’s conduct referred to as for “sharp rebuke.”
He loved his sufferer’s escalating misery, she mentioned.
“Mr. Coban’s blameworthiness falls on the excessive finish of the spectrum.”
Arguments offered on the sentencing listening to heard that the very best time period in Canada thus far for comparable offences has been about eight years.
The story of 15-year-old Todd gained worldwide consideration when she posted a video about her torment weeks earlier than her dying in 2012. She used flash playing cards to elucidate how she was harassed and extorted by an nameless on-line predator.
Commercial 3
Article content material
The video has since been seen many thousands and thousands of instances.
Todd’s title is understood world wide for exposing the darkish corners of the web the place predators lure susceptible youngsters, Devlin mentioned.
The choose mentioned Coban used an arsenal of pretend social media accounts and went to nice lengths to look out Todd’s members of the family and associates to maximise the hurt after she pleaded for him to cease.
Coban, who was extradited to Canada to face trial, is already serving an 11-year sentence handed down within the Netherlands for comparable crimes involving 33 youth.
Devlin mentioned the 13-year time period will probably be served after Coban’s Dutch sentence ends in August 2024.
The BC Prosecution Service issued a press release after the sentencing saying that underneath the phrases of Coban’s give up, he will probably be returned to the Netherlands to serve out his present sentence.
Commercial 4
Article content material
The courtroom heard he should be returned inside 45 days, and he’ll serve his Canadian sentence within the Netherlands.
Coban has refused rehabilitation and there’s a chance he’ll reoffend as a result of there’s nothing to point he has any perception into his behaviour, the choose mentioned.
She mentioned she wasn’t certain rehabilitation is a viable possibility as a result of Coban doesn’t admire the seriousness of his crime.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
Coban’s offending was relentless, he knew Todd was solely 12 years outdated when he began harassing her, and he preyed on her by hiding behind 22 aliases utilizing refined know-how, the choose mentioned.
Todd’s household needs to be thought of the secondary victims within the crimes, having skilled profound hurt and ongoing struggling, she mentioned.
Commercial 5
Article content material
Through the sentencing listening to this week, Coban’s lawyer Joseph Saulnier requested for a two-year sentence, saying extra time on prime of the sentence Coban is already serving could be “crushing.”
Devlin mentioned the extortion conviction needs to be thought of “sextortion” when it’s towards youngsters, reflecting society’s deepening understanding of the offence.
Little one pornography photos depicting Todd repeatedly violated her, Devlin mentioned.
“She couldn’t escape the photographs or movies. It was a ‘endless story,”‘ she mentioned, quoting from Todd’s personal description of her ordeal within the 2012 video.
Carol Todd, Amanda’s mom, advised the Home of Commons standing of girls committee earlier this month that the nation has discovered rather a lot since her daughter’s dying a decade in the past, however police must take on-line harassment extra significantly.
She mentioned victims shouldn’t be shamed into believing they’re accountable.
Todd mentioned the federal government additionally must re-examine its laws towards cyberbullying that obtained royal assent in 2014.
The invoice made it a criminal offense to share intimate photos with out consent, and to make clear that Felony Code offences, similar to harassment, may also be dedicated on-line.
