Victoria (Tori) Stafford, 8 - Canada, Murdered. The trial of Michael Rafferty

[Cheyne]

Thank you Jezreel for typing that all out. It must have been difficult for you.

[Jezreel]

Thank you Jezreel for typing that all out. It must have been difficult for you.

Your welcome Cheyne, yes it was difficult to hear, I can't even how the family felt listening to the testimony.

[Lady Cop]

thankyou Jezreel, good reporting!

[Jezreel]

Here is a pic one of the LFP reporters got yesterday when Rafftery was leaving court, is it me or does he look like he is smirking?



Here are a couple of links to the reports from yesterday's testimony:
A Savage Murder
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/raffe...98861.html

The Portrait of Evil
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/raffe...98971.html

Raw video of Tori's dad Rodney during lunch break at court yesterday
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/raffe...98971.html

[LytoMe]

This is so horrible to read, my daughter is 8 years old. To think this smirking piece of shit would enjoy a child. Oh I hope that someone made him their bitch in jail. I KNOW how some inmates LOVE to torture men like this....and how it can/will be overlooked by the guards. ONE can hope he gets the same treatment in jail that he gave to Tori. What a sick piece of shit!!!

[Jezreel]

Today's update so far:

UPDATE: 12:00 -- Terri-Lynne McClintic said she wanted to "take the fall" for Michael Rafferty in the murder of Victoria Stafford because she believed she was an 18-year-old junkie whose own life was worthless.

But just over a month after she was arrested, she confessed to the murder, started cooperating with police and signed a document falsely accusing Rafferty of the actual killing.

In her second day on the stand in Rafferty's murder trial, McClintic recalled her days at a detention centre in London after she was picked by police for breach of probation and questioned about Stafford's death.

She said Rafferty called her and visited at the centre offering support.

He offered to bring her flowers and asked her if she knew the consequences of " taking the fall."

"He told me 'You would do anything for a bit of love - wouldn't you?'"

She said he also talked about running away "like Bonnie and Clyde" and said he was looking forward to conjugal prison visits.

He sat with McClintic when she was in shackles outside a Woodstock courtroom and tried to slip her some drugs.

McClintic said she at first lied to police about being the mystery woman in the video showing Victoria's abduction.

But she later took a polygraph test and then confessed to the murder in a long interview with police on May 19.

She wrote a letter of apology to Tara McDonald, Victoria's mother "as a way of coping". She said she has only vague memories of MacDonald because of some drug deals with her partner James Goris.

McClintic also provided information to police that eventually allowed them to find Victoria's body.

She prepared a statement saying Rafferty killed Victoria. In testimony Tuesday she admitted she delivered the fatal hammer blows to the girl.

"It was what I wanted to be true," she said in an attempt to explain the lie.

Rafferty, 31, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault causing bodily harm in Victoria (Tori) Stafford's death.

McClintic, Rafferty's former girlfriend, pleaded guilty in 2010 to first-degree murder and is serving a life sentence.

--- --- ---
UPDATE: 8:51 -- Terri-Lynne McClintic said she and Michael Rafferty took many steps to cover their tracks after the murder of Tori Stafford.

McClintic took the stand for the second day this morning in the Michael Rafferty murder trial.

Rafferty, 31, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault causing bodily harm in Victoria (Tori) Stafford's death. Terry-Lynne McClintic, Rafferty's former girlfriend, pleaded guilty in 2010 to first-degree murder and is serving a life sentence.

After the pair left the crime scene north of Guelph, McClintic said they threw out their shoes, thoroughly cleaned the car in Cambridge and changed their clothes. Rafferty even asked her to cut out sections of the back seat of the car that could not be cleaned.

McClintic said she smoked marijuana, took oxycontin several times, as well as percocets, on the day Tori was killed.

She said she and Rafferty also discussed a cover story about a shopping trip to Oakville.

In an ironic twist, she helped a neighbour hand out fliers on Tori's disappearance.

A few days after the crime she was arrested on an outstanding warrant and taken to the police station. She denied knowing anything about Tori Stafford and was taken to the Genest detention centre McClintic said she contacted Rafferty from the centre. He asked if she needed anything, and offered to bring flowers.

He later came to the centre and they embraced.

They discussed the intense search for Tori Stafford.

"I said I would take the fall. He had more to lose - a life, a job. I really had nothing."

On Tuesday McClintic testified about her role in the killing of eight-year-old Victoria Stafford, providing details about the abduction and sexual assault.

McClintic told the jury she had inflicted the blows with a hammer that killed the girl.

There is also a video at this link of Rodney Stafford speaking during the lunch break: http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/raffe...00186.html

I have been reading some twitter updates today, TLM is speaking much clearer today, I guess yesterday must have been really emotional for her, shame!!
Also today Rafftery has been seen biting his lip, shaking his head as TLM testifies, along with more smirking - sick sick bastard! He has been seen to be taking a lot of notes throughout the day also.

[Lady Cop]

UK coverage here, a number of photos too.

so the mom was a useless POS addict too eh?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...chool.html

[koko]

Thanks for all the updates, Jezreel. I hadn't heard (at least that i remember) about this case and poor Tori before reading this thread.

The whole situation makes me sick. I feel no sympathy for TLM, she knew what was going to happen. She is heartless, all the times TLM couldve helped Tori avoid the fate she met, if she gave a shit at all. The fact that Tori still seemed to trust her even after TLM left her in the car with Rafferty just breaks my heart. I cant imagine taking that lil girls hand, letting her think you'd protect her when you have zero intention of doing so, and even worse when you know she's going to be hurt/murdered almost immediately.

[LytoMe]

This story has haunted me, and the scenario has gown over and over in my head. I lay in bed thinking of what she testified too yesterday. This is what rubs me the wrong way. I deal with addicts/criminals all day long. (Work in criminal defense law) I am also a very curious person, so I always ask question to get to know people. (Minor psych in college) So in saying all this I have asked many people what the feeling is being high on pills that she is stating she took. This is what makes me angry she blames the drugs like it is taking the blame off her. I have seen this happen so many times, “oh I was high, and I didn’t know what I was doing”. WRONG ANSWER!
The answers I have received from the worst of criminals is always the same, pills / marijuana give you a happy feeling, calming feeling. You always know what you’re doing, and you have control over your own actions.
Alcohol, crack, heroin, etc. these seem to be the drugs that have you in complete lose of control over yourself and your actions.

Sorry for the venting session, I needed to get that off my mind. This act of saying “I killed her, BUT he raped her and we were high on drugs so don’t blame me” is just driving me crazy.
I needed to get that off my chest. haha

[Duchess]

I've never seen people high on pot say & do the kinds of things that people drunk on alcohol do.

[Jezreel]

so the mom was a useless POS addict too eh?

Yep she was, she admitted to being addicted to oxy's along with her b/f James Gorris. There was always so much speculation about her, many thought she was responsible for her daughter's disappearance. I will give her credit for one thing though, everyday after Tori disappeared she held a press conference out front of her house to keep her daughter's name out there, all the while being bashed online, in person, in the media etc and basically being accused by many for being responsible, she was not showing enough emotion at her pc's, she did not seem upset enough etc etc. Basically another drug using momma.
Also the father Rodney Stafford fully admitted that he wasn't really part of Tori's or her brother's life for a long time, he was a deadbeat dad for a long while and I think only just started getting his act together a couple months prior to Tori's murder, I think the grandparents did most of the looking after of the children. He has done a lot since this though including riding across Canada to raise money and awareness for Childfind Ontario.

Oh and in September I think it was Tara and her b/f were arrested for drugs, she has recently stated she has managed to kick the 'habit' and been clean for about 6 months.

[Jezreel]

thankyou Jezreel, good reporting!

Thanks LC

[Jezreel]

Trial evidence that was shown yesterday in court:
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/raffe...03411.html

Video of TLM in home depot when she went to buy the garbage and hammer:
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/raffe...03671.html

Video of Rafftery and TLM on a 'date' I think this the date when she said they had sex in the movie theater - looks how he keeps moving away from her at first..... also I think the coat he is wearing is the coat that ended up being used to cover Tori when she was stuck in the back of the car on the floor :(
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/raffe...03341.html

In this link there is a video showing Rafftery after he left court yesterday sitting in a police cruiser.... to me it almost looks as the he is smirking again.


Now I can't find this in any of the tweets, so maybe when the trial is done and transcripts are released it will be there but one of things things that TLM that is sticking in my mind from when I was there, is when she was talking about Rafftery in the back of the car with Tori before the murder..... but I think that Rafftery tries to sodomize her, this is what it sounded like in the overflow room to me:

Crown: what was Tori saying/doing:
TLM: I heard her say no please, not in the bum. (now I am not sure if TLM said bum but that is what it sounded like)
then I head Mike say, why has this happened to you before? and Tori didn't answer.

I am interested to see what is asked and said on cross on Friday. I feel they are both as guilty as one another, he played TLM and tested the waters on what she would do, by asking about kidnapping and taking her to peoples houses saying how easy it would be to go in a take someone, with her just 'laughing it off' as she put it, he knew he got someone who would participate in his sick fantasies.

For her to say she always rises to a dare, that just says she was more than willing to do this to fulfill her own sick and twisted fantasies, she had at least 3 opportunities to let Tori go and didn't, she knew what was going to happen when she bought the hammer and garbage bags, she knew when Rafftery said, 'well we can keep her like this or let her go' whether she thought she would be the one to kill I don't know, she was definitely a willing participant.

[Kip]

Jezreel, yes, great reporting! Thank you.

One thing that struck me from your long account was how TLM had another opportunity to stop this chain of events when she was in Home Depot. She could have called LE from inside the store and told them that a little girl was being held inside a car in the parking lot. And watching TLM in Home Depot from the link you provided today - she just seems so nonchalant about it all.

I agree that she was a willing participant.

And, the "not in the bum, please" comment is just heartbreaking. Saying "please" in a situation like that....that poor little girl. MR's asking if that had happened to her before makes me wonder about James though. Wasn't his polygraph questionable? If so, maybe that's because he had things to hide other than regarding Tori's disappearance.

TLM and MR are just two evil people.

[Jezreel]

Jezreel, yes, great reporting! Thank you.

One thing that struck me from your long account was how TLM had another opportunity to stop this chain of events when she was in Home Depot. She could have called LE from inside the store and told them that a little girl was being held inside a car in the parking lot. And watching TLM in Home Depot from the link you provided today - she just seems so nonchalant about it all.

I agree that she was a willing participant.

And, the "not in the bum, please" comment is just heartbreaking. Saying "please" in a situation like that....that poor little girl. MR's asking if that had happened to her before makes me wonder about James though. Wasn't his polygraph questionable? If so, maybe that's because he had things to hide other than regarding Tori's disappearance.

TLM and MR are just two evil people.

You are right Kip, she does seem really nonchalant in the Home Depot video, like what she is about to do is an everyday thing.

About the comment, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it as I am really not sure that's what she said, but she definitely did say something that Rafferty replies with "has this happened before'.

Hmmm I had forgotten about James' polygraph, I will see if I can dig up any information about it, you could be onto something there.

One other thing that I wonder, is if maybe they had planned to keep Tori longer, as TLM had testified that day that Rafftery had said, I have friends in London, but they might start asking questions once the reports of her missing come out.

TLM also said that Rafftery took the battery out of his phone when they were on their way out of woodstock, he used her coat to clean blood off his 'areas' after rinsing himself with bottles of water he had in the car, he made TLM walk behind the car and cover up the tore tracks as they were leaving after murdering Tori.... If all this is true and her testimony is to be believed, it is something Rafftery has thought long and hard about and was planned.

Court is resuming today in about 5 mins, Dirk Derstine (still unsure as to how Rafftery is paying for him)? should begin his cross today, I'm interested to see what he asks, I have a feeling TLM will any credibility she might have had on the stand today. I wish I could go, but I do have to work today, I will be following tweets and maybe will take a walk down again at lunch.

Anybody else have any thoughts or theories?

[LytoMe]

Jezreel, What is TLM's reasons for murdering her and not just keeping her or releasing her? Because in her statements it seems that Rafferty has stated to her how he would release her or just keep her. NOT murder her. Also with her stating she was the one who hit her with a hammer, what was her reason?

The videos of her are just straight disturbing, in the "date" one she looks so high and all over the place. The second she is just so "matter of fact" about what she was doing and where she was going.

[Jezreel]

Jezreel, What is TLM's reasons for murdering her and not just keeping her or releasing her? Because in her statements it seems that Rafferty has stated to her how he would release her or just keep her. NOT murder her. Also with her stating she was the one who hit her with a hammer, what was her reason?

The videos of her are just straight disturbing, in the "date" one she looks so high and all over the place. The second she is just so "matter of fact" about what she was doing and where she was going.

Her first day on the stand when I was there, she never really gave a reason for murdering her, she said she was standing away from the car near the field and started having flashbacks to when she was about the same age (as Tori) and all this rage and anger built up inside her, when she turned and walked back to the car Tori was on the ground. TLM said "I savagely murdered that little girl"

So no reason so far as to why, I think that TLM was abused herself when she was around Tori's age or younger and maybe those were the flashbacks she was having and took it out on Tori. (I should say I think that is what she is trying to portray, to me there is no excuse)

Rafftery had said that they can't keep her or let her go, thus in my opinion eluding to murder. Maybe Rafftery knew that TLM would do the job, thinking that if ever they were found out he couldn't be charged with murder. He did a pretty good job of covering his own tracks.

Did you notice on the 'date' video that it seems she keeps trying to get near him, be affectionate and he pushes her away?

[LytoMe]

Jezreel,
This is what bothers me, if she was having flash backs wouldnt she go after HIM? Hurt the one that was causing the pain. Just ASS backwards to me.
I watched that video twice, where are they? A movie theater? He looks like he is trying to make her relax and she doesnt stop.

[Jezreel]

You would think so wouldn't LytoMe..... I doubt that what TLM is saying is 100% true, I think Rodney Stafford believes there has been lies already, if you listen to his mini PC's he does with the press every lunch. He was privy to what was said at TLM's hearing in April 2010, very little was released to the public and won't be until after this trial, so she may have said something different. We will ever know the complete truth? I doubt it, TLM is telling the truth as what she believes it to be or told herself it is.

I think that is the movie date they went on, it hasn't been disclosed as to where the video was taken yet. She probably is high on oxy's she admitted she shot them up everyday.

[LytoMe]

Perfect example of what the reaction is High on pills...she is giddy, happy, light on her feet...not angry, mean or aggressive.