8 Year Old Victoria “Tori” Stafford Missing Since 4/8/09 in Ontario, Canada

[Northern Rose]

Rafferty contacted McClintic while she was in jail, trial hears

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/rafferty-contacted-mcclintic-while-she-was-in-jail-trial-hears/article2413879/

[Northern Rose]

Tori Stafford trial: Accused was laughing, goofing off when visiting killer girlfriend in jail

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Horrified+Rafferty+contacted+McClintic+often+after+Tori+disappearance/6515524/story.html

[Northern Rose]

Rafferty, McClintic in constant contact in days after Tori Stafford’s abduction

London, Ont. — Michael Rafferty and Terri-Lynne McClintic were in constant contact in the days after Tori Stafford was abducted, a police officer told the jury at Rafferty’s first-degree murder trial on Wednesday.

The two either texted or talked almost every day even after McClintic was arrested and taken to Genest Detection Centre in London, OPP’s Det. Const. Gordon Johnson said. He reviewed copious phone records for Rafferty, McClintic’s mother, Carol’s cellphones and also Genest.

On the morning of April 8, 2009, the day Tori disappeared, at least a half-dozen phone calls were made from Rafferty’s BlackBerry to “drug associates” of McClintic’s. It corroborates McClintic’s testimony that Rafferty had contacted her that morning and wanted OxyContin pills.

Rafferty also texted and called Barbara Armstrong, the Guelph woman who often provided him with Percocet pills. He later drove to her home and as McClintic and Tori waited in the car, he bought pills.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/2012/04/rafferty-mcclintic-in-constant-contact-in-days-after-tori-staffords-abduction/

[Northern Rose]

Video shows McClintic, Rafferty as happy couple a month after Stafford killing

LONDON – Startling videos shown Wednesday at Michael Rafferty’s murder trial show him and Terri-Lynne McClintic as a happy, loving couple a month after Victoria “Tori” Stafford’s death.

The security videos were taken at the Genest Detention Centre in London, Ont., on on two separate days in May 2009, when Rafferty visited McClintic after she was arrested.

The video from the visitors’ lounge has no audio but shows the pair hugging, laughing and holding hands.

At one point Rafferty picks up McClintic from behind and lifts her off her feet in a playful bear hug.

After Rafferty leaves, McClintic looks wistfully out the window as he walks out to the parking lot.

Defence lawyer Dirk Derstine told court Rafferty was an unwilling dupe and McClintic masterminded the murder of Tori on April 8, 2009, a month before the first video at the detention centre was taken.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2012/04/25/video-shows-mcclintic-rafferty-as-happy-couple-a-month-after-stafford-killing

[Northern Rose]

Tori Stafford trial: Accused was laughing, goofing off when visiting killer girlfriend in jail

http://www.canada.com/Tori+Stafford+trial+Accused+laughing+goofing+when+visiting+killer+girlfriend+jail/6519389/story.html

[Northern Rose]

Blatchford: Flirty video of McClintic, Rafferty scene of sheer horror

LONDON, Ont. — For just a minute, there in the visitors lounge at the Genest Detention Centre on the evening of May 12, 2009, it looked as though Terri-Lynne McClintic and Michael Rafferty were slow dancing.

Their arms were wrapped around one another; their feet shuffled just a bit.

Thirty-four days before, though there has been quibbling over the details ever since, the two had presided at the burial of the little girl named Victoria (Tori) Stafford.

So there they were, now dancing or almost dancing, on that child's grave.

There Rafferty was, striking bodybuilder poses for her, though no admiration from another could ever match his own clear regard for himself.

There McClintic was, feeling his mighty bicep.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Blatchford+Flirty+video+McClintic+Rafferty+scene+sheer+horror/6519409/story.html

[Northern Rose]

Security cameras capture Rafferty, McClintic hugging (video)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/video/video-security-cameras-capture-raffertys-prison-visit/article2414397/?from=2414368

[Northern Rose]

Tori Stafford Trial: Defence case begins Tuesday
 
LONDON, Ont. — Now that the Crown in the high-profile murder trial of eight-year-old Victoria (Tori) Stafford has rested its case, the Ontario man who stands accused must decide Tuesday if he will testify on his own behalf.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Tori+Stafford+Trial+Defence+case+begins+Tuesday/6541865/story.html

[Northern Rose]

Rafferty's lawyers face tough call
Will Tori Stafford's accused killer testify on his own behalf?

The Crown has wrapped its case against accused killer Michael Rafferty, but his defence team has not said whether he will testify — a decision legal experts say is one of the hardest lawyers face.

Rafferty, 31, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping in the death of Victoria (Tori) Stafford, 8, who was abducted outside her school in Woodstock, Ont., on April 9, 2009. Her body was found in a farmer's field just southeast of Mount Forest, Ont., in July 2009

Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the accused is presumed innocent and is not required to testify.

And that means a defence lawyer must weigh a number of elements before deciding whether the accused should step into the witness box, says Edward Greenspan, who has defended high-profile clients including Conrad Black and Karlheinz Schreiber.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/04/27/accused-testifying-own-defence.html

[Northern Rose]

McClintic assault trial date expected

LONDON, Ont. -- Terri-Lynne McClintic, already serving a life sentence for the murder of eight-year-old Tori Stafford, will set a trial date this week on an assault charge in Kitchener, Ont.
McClintic made a brief court appearance via video link Thursday in the Ontario Court of Justice when defence lawyer Geoff Snow told court he had instructions to set the case for trial.

That date is to be set Tuesday.

McClintic, 21, is charged with assault causing bodily harm against fellow inmate Aimee McIntyre, who's also serving a life sentence at the Grand Valley Institution for Women.

Snow wouldn't give details of the allegations and said the decision to go to trial was entirely McClintic's
"I support her taking this to trial," he said.

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http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2012/04/20120429-161857.html

[Northern Rose]

Crown completes case against Michael Rafferty

After two months of often gut-wrenching testimony the crown has now wrapped up its case against Michael Rafferty.
The last piece of evidence came from a forensic expert who tied all the events together, from the day Tori Stafford was abducted, to the day her alleged killers were charged. Sean Leathong picks up the story.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.chch.com/index.php/home/item/7915-crown-completes-case-against-michael-rafferty

[Northern Rose]

Stafford trial: Rafferty won't testify in own defence

TORONTO – Michael Rafferty will not take the stand in his own defence during his first-degree murder trial, a London courtroom was told Tuesday.

Choosing to not make an opening statement, defence lawyer Dirk Derstine declared he would be calling just one witness.

The witness, who’s name falls under a publication ban, picked up her grandchildren every day at Oliver Stephen’s Public School in Woodstock, Ont., and says she remembers the events of April 8, 2009 – the day Tori Stafford went missing.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/stafford+trial+rafferty+wont+testify+in+own+defence/6442631898/story.html

[Northern Rose]

Lone defence witness in Rafferty trial testifies

The question that hung over the trial of Michael Rafferty, the man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering 8-year-old Tori Stafford, can now be answered: Shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday, the jury heard he would not testify in his own defence.

His lawyer, Dirk Derstine, told the jury he would call just one witness. The witness – who cannot be identified – has grandchildren who attend the same school as Tori Stafford.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/lone-defence-witness-in-rafferty-trial-testifies/article2418825/

[Northern Rose]

Analyzing the case against Michael Rafferty

http://chch.com/index.php/home/item/7958-analyzing-the-case-against-michael-rafferty

[Sister]

Lone defence witness in Rafferty trial testifies

The question that hung over the trial of Michael Rafferty, the man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering 8-year-old Tori Stafford, can now be answered: Shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday, the jury heard he would not testify in his own defence.

His lawyer, Dirk Derstine, told the jury he would call just one witness. The witness – who cannot be identified – has grandchildren who attend the same school as Tori Stafford.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/lone-defence-witness-in-rafferty-trial-testifies/article2418825/

Northern Rose, again, thank you for all the updates.
I can not even comprehend all the emotions Tori's family must be feeling as this POS's lawyer tries to cover his butt.

[Northern Rose]

  Rafferty's mom, lawyer share a scapegoat
 
As it was outside the courthouse here, where Michael Rafferty's mother was proclaiming the innocence of her son and blaming Terri-Lynne McClintic for "ruining our lives," so it was inside it, where Rafferty's lawyer, Dirk Derstine, was warning jurors not to believe a word McClintic said.

"She perjured herself over and over and over again," Derstine said of the 21-year-old convicted killer.

He was making his closing argument to jurors Monday.

Deborah Murphy, Rafferty's mother, was responding to a crush of cameras and reporters who twice swarmed her as she left the courthouse.

They shared a scapegoat, the 21-year-old who is already convicted for her role in the April 8, 2009, slaying of Woodstock's Victoria (Tori) Stafford.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/Blatchford+Rafferty+lawyer+share+scapegoat/6583485/story.html

[Northern Rose]

 Michael Rafferty's mom says her son is innocent

 ::snipping2::

"My son is innocent," said Deborah Murphy.

"This could happen to any man that's walking around right now. Terri-Lynne McClintic has wrecked our lives and I just hope that justice is served and that he's free."

http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=5788034f-2f61-4c1f-ae02-a97aa188ec74

[Northern Rose]

Lone defence witness in Rafferty trial testifies

The question that hung over the trial of Michael Rafferty, the man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering 8-year-old Tori Stafford, can now be answered: Shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday, the jury heard he would not testify in his own defence.

His lawyer, Dirk Derstine, told the jury he would call just one witness. The witness – who cannot be identified – has grandchildren who attend the same school as Tori Stafford.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/lone-defence-witness-in-rafferty-trial-testifies/article2418825/

Northern Rose, again, thank you for all the updates.
I can not even comprehend all the emotions Tori's family must be feeling as this POS's lawyer tries to cover his butt.

You are welocome

[Northern Rose]

Michael Rafferty Trial: Judge's Instructions Include A Setback For Defence

 ::snipping2::

Superior Court Judge Thomas Heeney is telling the jury in his final instructions that what lawyers say isn't evidence, and if there's no evidence to support their suggestions, the jury should disregard them.

Heeney warned the jury on Wednesday that his instructions will be long, and may even last into Friday.

The jury that will decide Rafferty's fate has been sitting since March 5, and the Crown wrapped up two days of closing arguments on Wednesday.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05/10/michael-rafferty-trial-judges-instructions_n_1505264.html

[Northern Rose]

Tori Stafford judge warns jury that lawyers’ theories aren’t evidence

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/05/10/stafford-judge-warns-that-lawyers-theories-arent-evidence-in-instructions-to-jury/