Dutch man accused in Amanda Todd case has trial postponed for 3rd time

A Dutch man charged in the Amanda Todd case has had his trial for child pornography and extortion charges postponed for a third time, according to Dutch news reports.

Aydin Coban faces 72 charges in the Netherlands, most of which relate to blackmail and the production and distribution of child porn. Coban also faces five charges in Canada in connection with Todd, the 15-year-old B.C. girl who killed herself after relentless bullying over nude photos that Coban is accused of posting online. He is awaiting an extradition hearing.

• Amanda Todd's alleged tormentor loses another lawyer
• Read Amanda's mother Carol Todd's statement
• VIDEO | Stalking Amanda: The Man in the Shadows
• Aydin Coban writes open letter proclaiming innocence 

Coban, 38, appeared in an Amsterdam court this morning without a lawyer, after his defence lawyer Robert Malewicz quit last week. 

Dutch news reports say a lawyer could not be found to replace Malewicz in time for the trial to begin, and that the district attorney told the court it would not be appropriate for the case to continue without legal assistance for Coban.

Robert Malewicz has been once again retained as Coban's defence lawyer in the case.

Local Dutch media have reported that his trial is likely to go ahead in the fall.

More 'heartache and stress,' says Todd's mother

Todd's mother Carol said she's discouraged at the postponement, saying this latest news will likely push the decision about whether to extradite Coban to Canada even further.

Canada has requested that Coban be extradited to face five separate charges in connection to Amanda Todd's case.

"Each and every time we hear about yet another change in the story, it is an emotional break in the path of healing," Carol Todd said in a statement. "I can only imagine the heartache and stress of how the others who were victimized, plus their families, may be feeling as they hear the news today of the postponement as they wait for yet another few months."

Earlier, Todd said the focus of the Dutch criminal proceedings shouldn't be on her daughter. She said she has distanced herself from the case to allow the stories of other complainants to be heard.