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

[Northern Rose]

Accused in Tori Stafford murder seeks change of venue




WOODSTOCK, Ont. — A man accused in the abduction and killing of eight-year-old Tori Stafford is scheduled to appear in an Ontario court Monday for pre-trial motions.

Michael Rafferty, 30, is charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping.

A lawyer for Rafferty is set to argue that his client should have his trial outside of Woodstock, a small city 150 kilometres southwest of Toronto, the hometown of both Rafferty and the Grade 3 girl.

The change-of-venue hearing is scheduled to last two days. A temporary publication ban is in place on the proceedings.

MORE...

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Accused+Tori+Stafford+murder+seeks+venue+change/4235403/story.html

[Northern Rose]

Accused in Tori Stafford murder appears in court

WOODSTOCK, Ont. — The man accused in the abduction and death of Grade 3 student Tori Stafford appeared in a Woodstock, Ont., court today.

Michael Rafferty, dressed in a dark grey suit and tie and cleanly shaven, watched the proceedings quietly.

The mother and father of Tori also were on hand to seen the accused in person.

MORE....

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110207/tori-stafford-case-before-the-courts-again-110207/20110207/?hub=TorontoNewHome

[Northern Rose]

Locals outraged by venue change

WOODSTOCK — Local residents voiced their outrage Wednesday after news broke that the trial of accused murderer Michael Rafferty will not be in Woodstock.

A casual poll on Wednesday showed local residents overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the trial in their hometown.

"The crime was engineered in Woodstock, and it should be tried here," local resident James King said. "I'm disgusted with what happened there. Every time I go down Pavey Street, I can't get that girl out of my mind.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2970544

[Northern Rose]

Ontario judge will move Rafferty trial

LONDON, Ont. — A Southwestern Ontario judge has taken on the difficult task of deciding where the accused in a crime that sparked outrage across an entire nation can get a fair trial.

Superior Court Justice Thomas Heeney said Tuesday he will decide by April where Michael Thomas Rafferty, 29, accused of killing eight-year-old Tori Stafford, should be tried.

After a day of debate over possible locations for the trial, about all defence and Crown lawyers and the justice could agree on was that the case of the little girl's abduction and killing in 2009 drew an extraordinary amount of attention, and that could present challenges to a fair trial.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/02/08/17202291.html

[Northern Rose]

Trial site to be decided by April (with video of Rodney Stafford)


http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2968574

[Northern Rose]

Rafferty murder trial set to begin in January

LONDON -- One year from now, life is going to change drastically for 12 people from London and Middlesex County.

They will join a small group of people whose lives have already changed, for the worse.

Those 12 will become jurors in the first-degree murder trial of Michael Thomas Rafferty, 29.

Regardless of their decision on his guilt or innocence, they will learn and discuss at length the horrific details of the death of a little Woodstock girl named Tori Stafford.

A small group -- the family foremost, but police, lawyers, court officials and reporters as well -- have already been immersed in those details. No doubt many would rather not have been. I am one of them.

Yet many of us will be in London court on Jan. 16, 2012, by choice or necessity.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3064201

[Northern Rose]

Abduction-murder law wanted

TORONTO -- An "abduction-murder" law with a mandatory life sentence and no chance of parole would reduce the number of tragic cases where children are kidnapped and killed, a criminal defence lawyer said Tuesday.

"Tori Stafford didn't need to die," said Robert Geurts, a former Crown attorney for 12 years and a defence lawyer for 10 years.

Stafford was taken from her southwestern Ontario hometown of Woodstock and killed in April 2009.

Terri-Lynne McClintic, 20, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received a mandatory life sentence in December for luring the eight-year-old girl, but under the current legislation, McClintic will be eligible for parole in 25 years.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/04/13/17976816.html

[Northern Rose]

Slain girl’s mom hopes for deal
TORI STAFFORD: Tara McDonald facing charges

WOODSTOCK - Next spring, Tara McDonald will have to endure the trial of the man accused of kidnapping and killing her eight-year-old girl.

But first, she’ll have to finish court proceedings involving charges against herself — three days before Christmas.

McDonald and co-accused James Goris made a brief court appearance Thursday on charges of possession of a controlled substance and property obtained by crime.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/11/24/19016611.html

[Northern Rose]

McDonald case adjourned

WOODSTOCK - The mother of a slain eight-year-old girl whose disappearance captivated the country made a brief court appearance on a drug charge Thursday.

Tara McDonald and co-accused James Goris had the matter adjourned until Dec. 22.


 ::snipping2::

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/11/24/19014221.html

[Northern Rose]

Tori's family braces for trial
Court

LONDON – As legal arguments began Monday in the first-degree murder trial of Michael Thomas Rafferty, the family of the girl he is accused of killing braced themselves for more months of anguish.

"It's hard to get through because on a daily basis you are seeing pictures of Victoria; you are talking about her on a daily basis. You can't help but not let her go," Rodney Stafford, father of Victoria 'Tori' Stafford said outside court Monday.

Even so, Stafford said he hoped to get to court each day to support his daughter's memory and make sure justice is done.

"I'd love to be hear for all of it, every word spoken in the courtroom."

The first day of pre-trial motions began Monday, but were adjourned after a brief hearing until Tuesday.

Pre-trial motions set the stage for a trial, as lawyers and the court attempt to determine how best to proceed.

A publication ban prevents reporting on the pre-trial motions, which are expected to last four weeks.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.tillsonburgnews.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3440569

[Northern Rose]

Rafferty's Pre-trial Continues in London

Day two of the pre-trial into accused killer Michael Rafferty continues today in London.

Pretrial motions began yesterday for Rafferty who the Crown says abducted and murdered 8 year old Tori Stafford, from Woodstock almost three years ago.

Tori's Dad, Rodney, was in the courtroom yesterday and says he plans to be there every day to support his daughter.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.cjbk.com/LocalNews/Story.aspx?ID=1640580

[Northern Rose]

Tori Stafford's family fumes over accused killer's smile

LONDON, ONT. - Victoria Stafford's father is fuming after the man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering his eight-year-old girl flashed a smile to his lawyers before a confidential hearing on Monday.

"I was pissed, to be quite honest," Rodney Stafford, Victoria's father, said. "My little girl's gone. You can't stand there accused of first-degree murder and have a good time in the courtroom."

Michael Thomas Rafferty stands accused first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping in the death of Victoria (Tori).

 ::snipping2::

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Crime/2012/01/16/19249996.html

[Northern Rose]

Tori Stafford's family still dealing with the 'hate'


LONDON, Ont. — The family of murdered eight-year-old Tori Stafford was prepared Monday for an emotional next few months, as the trial of a man accused in the young girl's death got underway.


"There's a lot of hostility. A lot of hate," the girl's father, Rodney Stafford, told reporters outside the London courthouse. "You live it on a daily basis."

 ::snipping2::

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Tori+Stafford+family+still+dealing+with+hate/6004178/story.html

[daisy.faithfull]

 

Rafferty trail begins Monday, Local residents will be following the Rafferty trial closely in the coming months
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2012/02/26/local-residents-will-be-following-the-rafferty-trial-closely-in-the-coming-months

Local residents say they will be following the trial of Michael Rafferty, slated to begin on Monday with jury selection, closely over the coming months.
 ::snipping2::

Can't believe the trial is finally going to start!

[MuffyBee]

Rafferty trail begins Monday, Local residents will be following the Rafferty trial closely in the coming months
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2012/02/26/local-residents-will-be-following-the-rafferty-trial-closely-in-the-coming-months

Local residents say they will be following the trial of Michael Rafferty, slated to begin on Monday with jury selection, closely over the coming months.
 ::snipping2::

Can't believe the trial is finally going to start!

It's been a long wait.  I hope there will be justice for Tori. 
Welcome to Scared Monkeys      daisy.faithful   

[Sister]

Rafferty trail begins Monday, Local residents will be following the Rafferty trial closely in the coming months
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2012/02/26/local-residents-will-be-following-the-rafferty-trial-closely-in-the-coming-months

Local residents say they will be following the trial of Michael Rafferty, slated to begin on Monday with jury selection, closely over the coming months.
 ::snipping2::

Can't believe the trial is finally going to start!

It's been a long wait.  I hope there will be justice for Tori. 
Welcome to Scared Monkeys      daisy.faithful   

Praying for justice.
Welcome daisy.faithful!
 

[Northern Rose]

Rafferty trail begins Monday, Local residents will be following the Rafferty trial closely in the coming months
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2012/02/26/local-residents-will-be-following-the-rafferty-trial-closely-in-the-coming-months

Local residents say they will be following the trial of Michael Rafferty, slated to begin on Monday with jury selection, closely over the coming months.
 ::snipping2::

Can't believe the trial is finally going to start!

   WELCOME DAISY.FAITHFULL   

[Northern Rose]

Tori Stafford murder trial begins jury selection
Michael Rafferty faces 1st-degree murder, sexual assault charges

Jury selection begins Monday in the trial for the man accused of killing eight-year-old Victoria Stafford, who disappeared near her school in Woodstock, Ont., in April 2009.

Michael Rafferty is facing first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and abduction charges.

Lawyers for the Crown and the accused will be able to ask potential jurors limited questions to determine whether they have been affected by pretrial publicity.

 ::snipping2::

Rodney Stafford, Tori's father, told CBC News he will be attending the trial, which was moved from Woodstock to London, Ont. He said he has never been able to accept his daughter's death.

“There'll never be closure because I still wake up every morning without my daughter,” he said. “There's never any closure, the only closure will be Victoria coming home and that will never happen.”

 ::snipping2::

Rafferty will sit in the prisoner’s box during the trial, which is standard practice in many cases. Superior Court Justice Thomas Heeney ruled he could not sit with his lawyer because of security concerns as a result of the nature and history of the case. Heeney also said this arrangement would provide a better line of sight between the accused and the jurors.

The jury will visit the location where Tori’s body was found and where the Crown alleges she was killed.

 ::snipping2::

Rafferty's trial is expected to last several months

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/02/26/stafford-murder-trial.html

[Northern Rose]

Jury selection begins in Tori Stafford murder trial

 ::snipping2::

A total of 1,375 people have been summoned for jury duty this week and next, and they could end up serving on the Rafferty trial or any other criminal or civil jury trial starting during that period.

Rafferty's trial was moved from Woodstock to nearby London in light of publicity surrounding the girl's death.

The trial is also expected to draw extensive media coverage, so Superior Court Judge Thomas Heeney has set some ground rules. Reporters can use but won't be allowed to transmit from the courtroom from devices such as laptops or smartphones.

However, a satellite courtroom will be set up for the trial, from which reporters will be allowed to electronically transmit information.

Members of the public won't be permitted to use personal electronic devices in either courtroom.

During the trial, which is expected to last through the spring, the jury is set to visit the site where Tori's body was found.

http://www.660news.com/news/national/article/335193--jury-selection-begins-in-tori-stafford-murder-trial

[Northern Rose]

Selection to begin in Rafferty murder trial

 ::snipping2::

Potential jurors will be asked by the Crown and defence lawyers if they've been affected by publicity surrounding the case.

They will also visit the remote spot near Mount Forest, Ont., where the girl's body was found, and where the Crown alleges she was sexually assaulted and killed. Tori was abducted while walking home from her school in Woodstock, Ont., on April 8, 2009.

 ::snipping2::

The pre-trial for Rafferty began in London Jan. 16 and dealt with several issues about how the trial is to proceed.

Among the issues was whether Rafferty would sit at his counsel's table, as is sometimes permitted, or in the courtroom dock.

Superior Court Justice Thomas Heeney decided Rafferty should sit in the dock, largely for security reasons.

Most of Heeney's other rulings are under a publication ban.


Several of Tori's family members attended the pre-trial and vowed to attend every day of the trial after the jury is selected.

"I want to be there for my daughter," Tori's father, Rodney Stafford, said last week.

Tori's mother, Tara McDonald, declined comment.

http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3484048