Dutch man Aydin Coban convicted of sexually extorting B.C. teen Amanda Todd
CBC
WARNING: This article contains details of sexual extortion and may affect those who have experienced it or know someone affected by it.
Dutch national Aydin Coban has been convicted of extortion, two counts of possession of child pornography, child luring and criminal harassment against Amanda Todd, the B.C. teenager whose story spread around the globe after she died by suicide nearly a decade ago.
A jury delivered the verdict in Supreme Court in New Westminster, B.C., after one day of deliberation.
Todd's mother, Carol Todd, sat in the back row of the audience gallery Saturday, taking notes. She repositioned herself when Coban returned to the courtroom, within his line of sight.
She reacted strongly as each guilty verdict was read out in court.
Coban, wearing a navy blue button down shirt, showed little emotion as the verdict was read.
Speaking to CBC outside the courtroom, Todd appeared overjoyed. While she said she didn't want to use "happy words" to describe the verdict, she said it was exciting to finally have some closure. She described the conviction on all counts as a "just" decision — one that came as a relief, many years after losing her daughter.
"If I could say a message to Amanda, it would be that we always believed you," she said.
"She's not here, but she may be somewhere watching us. This is her moment," Todd added, thanking the B.C. government, Crown prosecutors and Dutch authorities for all of their hard work.
Todd said she believes the trial has set a precedent in Canada and around the world that shows people suspected of "sextortion" can be extradited to stand trial in another country.
The verdict comes after seven weeks of testimony involving dozens of witnesses, exhibits and evidence presented by Crown prosecutors prior to the start of closing arguments.
Coban's defence lawyer did not call any evidence in the trial.
On Friday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Martha Devlin spent the day instructing the jury they could only find Coban guilty of the charges against him if the Crown had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Otherwise, she said, they must acquit him.
Over the course of several hours, Devlin reviewed testimony and evidence that had been presented to jurors during the the lengthy and complex trial. She guided the jurors through the definition of each criminal count sworn against Coban, explaining to them the criteria the Crown needed to meet in order to convict.
This First Person column is the experience of Shannon Flaman, who lives in Red Deer, Alta. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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