VANCOUVER – The trial of a Dutch man facing a string of child pornography and online extortion charges related to the suicide of a British Columbia teen is slated to begin Friday morning in Amsterdam.
However, criminal proceedings against Aydin Coban could be delayed once again after Dutch media reports say his most recent lawyer has quit on the eve of the trial.
Coban is accused of using sexual webcam video to blackmail 39 victims from various countries, including one other Canadian.
READ MORE: What are they thinking? Teenagers, naked photos and cyberbullying
Ottawa has asked the Dutch government to extradite Coban to Canada so he can stand trial on five separate charges linked to the death of 15-year-old Amanda Todd of Port Coquitlam, B.C.
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Todd killed herself following a period of relentless bullying sparked after an Internet harasser allegedly distributed nude photos of her online throughout her community.
The Dutch court approved an earlier delay for the trial after Coban released his first lawyer and media reports from the Netherlands say the second lawyer quit after he was refused another extension.
READ MORE: Extradition hearing set for accused in Amanda Todd case
Coban’s extradition trial is scheduled for June 14, a day after a judgment is expected from the criminal proceedings.
The federal Justice Ministry says in a statement that, if found guilty, Coban wouldn’t necessarily have to serve his entire sentence in the Netherlands prior to being extradited to Canada.
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