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A police expert in digital investigations is the fourth witness to testify at the cyberbullying trial involving Port Coquitlam student Amanda Todd.
On Wednesday morning (June 8), Det. Const. Robin Shook of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) told Madam Justice Martha Devlin and the 12-person jury at BC Supreme Court in New Westminster about his forensic experience.
Among the file sharing services he has investigated include Tinychat, Omegle, blogTV, Dialogoo, ICanHazChat and CamVoice — sites that will be referred to during the seven-week trial, the court heard.
Shook also explained to the jury about encrypted data, as well as the Tor browser, an internet browser that allows users to surf the web anonymously and have access to the dark web.
Shook, who was in VPD’s child exploitation unit from 2011–’16, provided an expert report to Crown in preparation of the trial by reviewing electronic records such as written messages, videos and screen shots, prosecutor Marcel Daigle told the court.
Shook is expected to be on the stand for three days.
Aydin Coban, a native of The Netherlands, is on trial for five counts. On Monday (June 6), he pleaded not guilty to:
- extortion
- importing and distributing child pornography
- possession of child pornography
- communicating with the intent to lure a child
- criminal harassment
None of the allegations is proven in court.
Earlier this week, Amanda Todd’s parents, Carol and Norman, testified about their late daughter’s use of social media during the ages of 12 and 15, from 2009 to 2012.
She died on Oct. 10, 2012, at her mother’s home in Port Coquitlam.
After her death, a black and white video that Amanda posted on YouTube, using flashcards to explain her mental health and being pursued online, went viral.
Carol Todd, an educator with School District 43, also established the Amanda Todd Legacy Society to provide resources for online protection.
The trial continues.
