The mother of Amanda Todd is hoping 2020 brings the man accused of blackmailing her daughter to Canada to face charges.
Carol Todd said in an email that a process that would see Dutch citizen Aydin Coban extradited is taking a long time but news that further steps have been taken to advance the process is heartening.
“We have been waiting so long for this to happen as he was initially charged back in April of 2014 and we are now heading into 2020,” Todd said.
“Amanda’s story will continue to move forward but this is a part that needs to happen for peace of mind.”
Amanda died by suicide on Oct. 10, 2012, after posting a video on YouTube saying she had been blackmailed by an online predator.
In the video, the 15-year-old holds up flashcards explaining how she sank into depression after being taunted and physically attacked at school.
Coban is accused of being her blackmailer.
In 2017, Coban was convicted of online abuse and for blackmailing 34 young girls and men and sentenced to 11 years in Dutch prison.
He appealed, but the appeal was later dropped, meaning Canada could begin the extradition process to face charges of extortion, importing or distributing child pornography, possessing child pornography and child luring against Coban.
Canada is seeking Coban’s temporary surrender so that he can be tried in British Columbia while he continues to serve a Dutch prison sentence.
On Dec. 17 the B.C. Prosecution Services made a court application for an order that would allow for Coban to be detained in a B.C. jail when he arrives in Canada, according to the Department of Justice.
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