Jury begins deliberation in Amanda Todd extortion case

The jury in a British Columbia Supreme Court trial of a Dutch man charged with harassing and extorting teenager Amanda Todd began deliberating a verdict Friday.

Justice Martha Devlin provided instructions to the jury before deliberations began, telling them to take “special care” with the teen's statements.

Devlin said because Amanda died in October 2012 and didn't testify or wasn't able to be cross-examined at Aydin Coban's trial, the jury needs to be aware of the limitations of evidence given.

In her final instructions, Devlin said jury members should carefully examine the statements Amanda gave to her parents, police officers and in her electronic communications when they consider Coban's verdict.

“Do not place Amanda Todd's statements on the same footing as the statements of a witness who testified for you in this trial,” she told the jury. “Give her statements special care and the weight you think they deserve.”

Coban pleaded not guilty to extortion, harassment, communication with a young person to commit a sexual offence and possession and distribution of child pornography at the start of the trial two months ago. Before summarizing the evidence and testimony given in the 38-day trial, Devlin was careful to say that Coban was not charged in Amanda's death.

“You have heard evidence in this trial that Amanda Todd died on Oct. 10, 2012. Mr. Coban is charged with five offences, all of which are alleged to have occurred between November 2009 and February 2012. Amanda Todd's death and the circumstances of her death are not part of this trial,” Devlin said. Amanda died by suicide. Jury members will be sequestered until they reach their verdict.

Crown attorney Louise Kenworthy told the jury in her opening statements that Amanda had been the victim of a persistent campaign of online “sextortion” before her death at age 15.

She wrapped up her closing arguments Tuesday, saying there was a “treasure trove of information” linking Coban to the harassment and extortion of Amanda.

Defence lawyer Joseph Saulnier told the jury in his closing arguments that “fragments” of computer data cited by police cannot link the Dutch man to the harassment and extortion of Amanda. He said the main issue in the trial is the identity of the person behind the messages, and extortion cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.