JURY DELIBERATING IN TRIAL OF DUTCH MAN ACCUSED OF ONLINE EXTORTION OF AMANDA TODD

NEW WESTMINSTER, B. C. 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.

Justice Devlin said because Ms. Todd 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, Justice Devlin said jury members should carefully examine the statements Ms. Todd gave to her parents, police officers and in her electronic communications when they consider Mr. 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.”

Mr. 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, Justice Devlin was careful to say that Mr. Coban was not charged in Ms. Todd’s death.

Ms. Todd died by suicide.

Jury members will be sequestered until they reach their verdict.