General

Crown to wrap closing arguments in Rafferty trial

The Crown is expected to finish its closing arguments at the trial of Michael Rafferty on Wednesday, charged in the death of the eight year old Victoria Stafford, who disappeared in the spring of 2009 outside a school in Woodstock, Ont.

Rafferty has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping. His defence accused Rafferty’s former girlfriend Terri-Lynne McClintic, who testified as the prosecution’s star witness, of being a liar and accusing her of acting all by herself. McClintic testified as the Crown’s star witness in the case against Rafferty, detailing to the court how she and Rafferty had kidnapped, raped and murdered the little girl.

On Tuesday, crown attorney Kevin Gowdey tried to dissuade the jury from the idea that Rafferty was an innocent bystander, rather telling the court that he was the one who instigated McClintic to lure Stafford.

From the CBC:

“He knew from the very beginning because he was the leader of the operation,” prosecutor Kevin Gowdey said, adding that no “thinking, law-abiding person” would go along with what was clearly a kidnapping.

The Crown contends the Grade 3 student was lured to Rafferty’s vehicle by his then girlfriend, Terri-Lynne McClintic — a “violent pawn” acting on his orders.

McClintic pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Tori two years ago.

The Crown said it’s completely unrealistic to think that she acted alone.

“Together they did this to Tori Stafford,” Gowdey said. “Together they are guilty.”

 

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