Judge instructs jury before its deliberations in online extortion case of B.C. teen Amanda Todd
WARNING: This text comprises particulars of sexual extortion and will have an effect on those that have skilled it or know somebody affected by it.
The B.C. Supreme Courtroom justice within the trial of a Dutch man charged with harassing and extorting teenager Amanda Todd advised the jury to “take particular care” with the teenager’s statements Friday, wrapping a weeks-long trial with last directions to jurors earlier than they start deliberations.
Justice Martha Devlin stated the jury wants to pay attention to the constraints of proof given since Todd’s demise in 2012 as she did not testify and could not be cross-examined at Aydin Coban’s trial in New Westminster, B.C.
Giving her directions over a number of hours Friday, Devlin stated jury members ought to rigorously study the statements Todd gave to her dad and mom, cops and in her digital communications once they contemplate Coban’s verdict.
Coban, 44, has pleaded not responsible to extortion, harassment, communication with an adolescent to commit a sexual offence and possession and distribution of kid pornography at first of the trial two months in the past.
Talking outdoors the courthouse Friday, Todd’s mom stated she believed the Crown did “a extremely good job” explaining the complexities of cybercrime, extortion and case regulation to the jury all through the trial, whereas the defence “victim-blamed” and “shamed” her late daughter.
Carol Todd stated it was exhausting to explain her emotions.
“I am hopeful, however I am unable to base my hope on 100 per cent as a result of if I do not hear these phrases — ‘responsible’ — 5 instances, I will be actually upset, I will be actually disillusioned and I am going to go down that rabbit gap. I simply have to have a look at it realistically and hope for the most effective,” she stated.
Earlier than summarizing the proof and testimony offered within the 38-day trial, Devlin was cautious to say Friday that Coban was not charged with Todd’s demise.
Todd died by suicide on Oct. 10, 2012, on the age of 15, after being exploited on-line over a interval of three years. Earlier than she died, she advised her story in a nine-minute video posted on YouTube.
The video unfold world wide after her demise, with 14.8 million views as of August.
Crown prosecutor Louise Kenworthy advised the jury in her opening statements that Todd had been the sufferer of a persistent marketing campaign of on-line “sextortion.”
Todd’s mom, Carol, has attended every single day of Coban’s trial, sitting in the back of the courtroom just a few metres from the prisoner’s field the place the accused sat along with his again to her.
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Help is out there for anybody who has been sexually assaulted. You possibly can entry disaster strains and native assist companies via this Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. In case you’re in speedy hazard or concern on your security or that of others round you, please name 911.
In case you or somebody you understand is struggling, this is the place to get assist:
This information from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines easy methods to speak about suicide with somebody you are apprehensive about.
