OT - Michael Rafferty found guilty on all three counts!

[Teresa Pitman]

I don't know if anyone else has been following this trial. I live in Guelph, so it hit very close to home for me.

For those who didn't follow: a little 8-year-old girl, Tori Stafford, was kidnapped by a woman and her boyfriend as she walked home alone from school in Woodstock. The two took her to Guelph, bought drugs and a hammer and garbage bags, then drove north to a rule area where she was sexually assaulted and then killed and her body put in the garbage bag. Both were arrested, the woman confessed and plead guilty, the man (Michael Rafferty) insisted he was not guilty. Much evidence was excluded from the trial (such as child pornography, computer searches on "underage rape," etc.) but the jury still saw the truth and convicted him on kidnapping, sexual assault and first degree murder. I am so relieved. It won't bring little Tori back but he won't be able to do this to another child.

TP

 

[kellyla]

Let's hope they classify both of them dangerous offenders and they never see the outside of the prison walls again.

 

[hcoker1]

I live in Woodstock so we are very happy that they found him guilty. I hope that the news crews will leave now, it was really sad yesterday when CBC decided to create a news story about oxi addicts and started to portray our city as a drug haven. It was obviously a time filler but still hurtful.

I have a colleague who was a juror on the trial. I really hope that she takes a few weeks off of work to recoup, it must have been a difficult ordeal.

Please remember Tori and her family.

 

[shenaniganzz]

I have followed the trial closely and was SO relieved by the verdicts. I think the jury will be reassured about their decision now that the trial is over and they hear about the evidence (on his computer) that was not allowed in the trial.

Unfortunately in Canada they cannot run sentences consecutively so he won't be sentenced for each crime and serve them back-to-back. We really need to change that to ensure scum like that monster never see the light of day.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I don't think he'll ever be out. He can apply for parole in 25 years but I don't think it will ever be granted. The parole board will have not only the record of this case but the other stuff that didn't go into evidence.

TP

 

[shenaniganzz]

I doubt they will let him out either. I just think if he is guilty of all three counts then he should be sentenced on all three out of respect for the victim if nothing else.

I am glad they will have a setencing hearing though to give the family a chance to speak.

 

[Susie63]

I don't think he will ever MAKE it out.They don't have very high regard for child killers in prison.

 

[Scornelius]

I burst into tears of relief when I heard the verdict!! I couldn't believe the info that was excluded from the trial. I couldn't stand the idea of him being set free, and then the jurors finding out everything we knew that they didn't. I hope he's killed in prison before we have to spend taxpayer money housing him for the rest of his life.

 

[bdoyledimou]

the problem with the inf from his pc is that anyone with access to the pc could had done it, not just him. Very glad this is over and done with though. That family, and the city can rest safe one more bad guy is off the streets.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

I don't think he will ever MAKE it out.They don't have very high regard for child killers in prison.

Prison justice ... let's hope so

 

[CanadianPaco]

I'm also from Woodstock. Justice for Tori is spelt GUILTY!

This town needs peace and healing. We are neighbours of the Hawkins family who passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning 6 months before the Tori Stafford murder. DD went to school with Tori's cousin. Enough pain. Enough tragedy. Enough gloom. This town must heal.

 

[Susan2771]

Such a sad story. Hopefully those who loved and cared for that little girl can find peace and move forward.

 

[Celidh]

I wish we could save our tax payers money and instead of paying for both of them to live out their life in prison, we should reinstate the death penalty. They get more activities and privileges in prison than what I had supporting myself and my 3 kids on my low income with no child support when I first left my marriage.

Look at Karla Homolka (sp), went to prison and got a university education!

All I can hope for is the so called "prison justice" pp mentioned.

I can't imagine the terror that poor child had to go through before she died. It breaks my heart, especially when I look at my own little 8 yr old girl. I tried to tell her a bit about this case (a very diluted bit) when I was trying to explain to her why she wasn't allowed to go out by herself.

 

[CanadianPaco]

I couldn't agree more about the death penalty! We tax payers will have to pay for his appeal, and in 25 yrs his parol hearings and all that "living" he'll have in the mean time. Money well wasted.

 

[SkaGoat]

I for one am happy it's over so I don't have to hear about it anymore. I think with cases like this there should be a total publication ban until a verdict is rendered. I don't need to know all the horrible details, nor do I need to know how many women Rafferty slept with.

I'm glad they both are going to jail, but I wouldn't wish for anyone to be raped, like those above me. Put him into solitary confinement for the rest of his life, that's punishment enough, and gets him off our streets.

 

[SkaGoat]

I couldn't agree more about the death penalty! We tax payers will have to pay for his appeal, and in 25 yrs his parol hearings and all that "living" he'll have in the mean time. Money well wasted.

Problem with the death penalty, (it doesn't apply to this case) but you end up killing innocent people (or nearly killing them) see the Steven Truscott case for example.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I actually don't agree with the idea of a publication ban. I think it is important that people see justice being done. We need to know what goes on during a trial in the interest of everyone getting a fair trial.

What I wish would happen is that people like MR would be studied by experts. I do not believe that some people are "born bad." Both he and his partner in crime came from very dysfunctional families. Maybe experts studying them could learn more about what causes this kind of evil and what we might do to prevent it. I know that Terri Lyn was in foster care at one point - should the CAS have intervened sooner? Differently? It would be so much better if we could prevent these crimes, and I think research on these criminals might give us some clues.


TP

 

[SkaGoat]

I actually don't agree with the idea of a publication ban. I think it is important that people see justice being done. We need to know what goes on during a trial in the interest of everyone getting a fair trial.

I disagree that daily updates from the court room are needed to ensure a fair trial.

1. There are still public, press etc in the court room
2. There are official court room records taken of the entire proceeding.

Just have one report once the verdict is read that provides a summary of the proceedings. (which they did anyway, even though they had been reporting daily on the trial for almost a month)

I just really don't need to hear about a little girl being raped and killed daily. "Change the channel" is what will be suggested, and I do, but my local news (London, Ontario) only has so much time per day, and they waste it on the Rafferty trial instead of reporting on other local happenings.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

But people are not going to go and ask for court records, and a summary of the case at the end - especially if it's a long trial - isn't going to tell us much. I think the daily reporting keeps the court system honest in a way that others can't. They know they aren't going to get away with anything when the details are published daily.

Was it horrible hearing about Tori's death daily? Yes. But I am willing to endure that to ensure that her killer is punished.

TP

 

[KiKi Mouse]

I followed this case from the day I saw the video of Tori being led away by the woman in the white jacket.

Two horrific monsters are now locked up for 25 years.

Unfortunately there are other monsters out there wanting to take our children who spend their time fantasizing about what Rafferty did to Tori.