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

[Northern Rose]

Rafferty's lawyer now speaking

Did everything they could to ensure a fair trial
Rafferty disappointed by verdict
Appeal is Rafferty's decision
Felt jury thought long and hard to come to decision.  They could have come to a decision in minutes if they believed everything the crown presented
This WAS a legal aid case.  Which means MY tax dollars paid for this.  I am now crying and pizzed!!!

[Northern Rose]

Derstine talking to the defense lawyer for #rafferty http://pic.twitter.com/qFJEvXAc



http://twitter.com/#!/jamesarmstrong7

[Northern Rose]

Rodney just came out of court.  Lots of cheering when he walked out and clapping

[Northern Rose]

Rodney looks happy

When he heard the verdict he wanted to scream but could not do it.  Laso a sense of loss as Tori is not coming home.
Rodney holding up a picture of Tori now saying this verdict was for every child as this should not happen to any of them.

Cars now driving by the court honking

[Northern Rose]

James Armstrong ‏ @jamesarmstrong7
"we got justice" Rodney says #rafferty http://pic.twitter.com/kcoKLtsB

http://twitter.com/#!/jamesarmstrong7

[Northern Rose]

James Armstrong ‏ @jamesarmstrong7 
Rodney says he wanted to scream with joy. #rafferty http://pic.twitter.com/7ZE4ihpR

http://twitter.com/#!/jamesarmstrong7

[Northern Rose]

Jim McDonald, Tori's grandfather hugged the jury
He says they were emotional ( boy they have a surprise when they hear about the laptop and porn that was not presented)

[Northern Rose]

Crown now speaking

Wants to thank the jury
happy with the verdict
everyone should be proud of the OPP and Woodstock PD for their investigation
Verdict means the jury has found that Rafferty did kidnap, rape and murder Tori and his thoughts are with Tori's family

[MuffyBee]

 ::justice2NJ:: ::justice2NJ:: ::justice2NJ::

[Northern Rose]

James Armstrong ‏ @jamesarmstrong7
People driving by courthouse yelling "hang him" #rafferty

http://twitter.com/#!/jamesarmstrong7

[Northern Rose]

::justice2NJ:: ::justice2NJ:: ::justice2NJ::

Yes it is!

 ::justice2NJ::    ::justice2NJ::    ::justice2NJ::    ::justice2NJ::   ::justice2NJ::

[Northern Rose]

The Northern Lights have been dancing the past few evenings.  They have been green and yellow.  Sometimes when they dance they are pink, purple or blue as well.  It looks like it will be another clear night and I will go out to see if they are dancing and if there is any purple in them I know Tori is dancing tonight that justice has been done today.

[Northern Rose]

James Armstrong ‏ @jamesarmstrong7
http://yfrog.com/kjhsahjj says he can't imagine the family's pain

.James Armstrong ‏ @jamesarmstrong7
http://yfrog.com/kfm87rfj investigative lead says Tori was the inspiration they used during the case

.James Armstrong ‏ @jamesarmstrong7
http://yfrog.com/eszf4drj investigative lead talks about the case. Says it's with great pride that they do this

http://twitter.com/#!/jamesarmstrong7

[Northern Rose]

Careless mistakes were Rafferty’s undoing

As Michael Rafferty drove away from Woodstock, Ont. with a terrified Tori Stafford hidden in the back seat of his Honda Civic, he pulled the battery out of his BlackBerry. This detail was proffered at his trial by his then-girlfriend Terri-Lynne McClintic, who was riding shotgun, to suggest he knew police could use his phone to track his movements.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/careless-mistakes-were-raffertys-undoing/article2430649/?utm_medium=Feeds%3A%20RSS%2FAtom&utm_source=Home&utm_content=2430649

[Northern Rose]

Rafferty guilty of all three counts in murder of Tori Stafford

LONDON, Ont. - Justice finally came for Victoria Stafford late Friday when a jury convicted Michael Rafferty of taking, raping and killing the eight-year-old girl in a secluded Ontario field more than three years ago.

It took the nine women and three men ten and a half hours to decide Rafferty was guilty of first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping the child.

The verdict carries with it an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for at least 25 years.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.canada.com/Rafferty+guilty+three+counts+murder+Tori+Stafford/6609414/story.html

[Northern Rose]

Michael Rafferty’s evil defies explanation

As Michael Rafferty was led away to begin an automatic life sentence for the murder of Tori Stafford, his empty, utterly unremarkable life offered no answers to the prevailing question: How could a grown man do that to an eight-year-old girl?

Murderers come in all shapes and sizes, and in 30 years of covering crime in Canada and conflict abroad I’ve encountered most: clumsy gangsters, skilled hit men, jealous husbands, suicide bombers, pedophiles.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/michael-raffertys-evil-defies-explanation/article2430646/

[grace-land]

Oh, what great news!  ::justice2NJ::   

At the beginning of the case, it was sad watching the video of Tori being lead away by that woman. 

Rest in Peace, dear Tori.   

[Northern Rose]

Blatchford: A journey through darkness ends in justice — Michael Rafferty is guilty


LONDON, Ont. — Michael Rafferty is guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault causing bodily harm in the slaying of Victoria (Tori) Stafford.

The verdicts came Friday night after about nine hours of deliberation.

As the jury foreman, one of only three men on the jury, stood and said "Guilty" for the first of three times, the 31-year-old Rafferty closed his eyes.

He remained standing even after the foreman finished, taking his seat only after his lawyer motioned to him.

It was his only visible reaction, in stark contrast to the murmurs of relief and tears in the courtroom.

The little girl's mother, Tara McDonald, sobbed uncontrollably while a large group of her paternal relatives, and father Rodney Stafford, held hands.

It was the final chapter of the story that could be called The Dog That Wasn't There.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Blatchford+journey+through+darkness+ends+justice+Michael+Rafferty+guilty/6609393/story.html

[Northern Rose]

Rafferty trial: What the jury asked during deliberations

http://www.globaltvbc.com/rafferty+trial+what+the+jury+asked+during+deliberations/6442639574/story.html

[Northern Rose]

Live blog, livestream: Reaction to the Rafferty verdict

http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/live+blog+livestream+reaction+to+the+rafferty+verdict/6442635993/story.html