05-01-2012, 03:51 PM
Wow I am floored, the defense called one witness and rested it's case, no big surprise, no nothing really in my opinion, just one single witness, a Grandmother and hostile witness who stated she was not happy about testifying for the defense and the only part of her testimony that we hadn't heard is that she said she saw TLM enter the school via the front doors that day.
Derstine will present his closing on Friday, the Crown will present their closing on Monday and the judges charge will be on Tuesday, then verdict watch.
Rodnet Stafford spoke with the media today and called Rafferty a coward for not testifying. The video should be available soon
London Free Press - A Woodstock grandmother says she had a clear look at the dark-haired woman who led Tori Stafford away on the day she was abducted in 2009.
"She walked briskly and looked straight ahead like she was on a mission," said the woman, who was at Oliver Stephens school picking up her grandchildren.
She said Tori was skipping along behind the woman in the white coat, looking happy but trying to keep up.
The grandmother, who cannot be identified by court order, was the first and only witness called by defence lawyer Dirk Derstine.
He has suggested that Terri-Lynne McClintic, who has since been identified by surveillance video as the woman leading the eight-year-old Woodstock girl away, masterminded the abduction.
McClintic, 21, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in April 2010 and has testified against Rafferty at his trial, now in its ninth week.
Rafferty, 31, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault causing bodily harm in the April 8, 2009 disappearance of Stafford.
The grandmother told court Tuesday she got several good looks at the woman in front of the school, entering the school, and later on Fyfe Avenue in an image caught on surveillance video.
She said the woman caught her attention because she was wearing a puffy ski jacket on a hot day.
In cross examination, the Crown pointed out that the grandmother's memory conflicted with earlier statements she made to police in 2009.
Derstine announced earlier Tuesday that Rafferty would not testify in his own defence. Rafferty's testimony was considered crucial to counter the story told by McClintic, his former girlfriend, earlier in the trial.
Derstine will present his closing on Friday, the Crown will present their closing on Monday and the judges charge will be on Tuesday, then verdict watch.
Rodnet Stafford spoke with the media today and called Rafferty a coward for not testifying. The video should be available soon
London Free Press - A Woodstock grandmother says she had a clear look at the dark-haired woman who led Tori Stafford away on the day she was abducted in 2009.
"She walked briskly and looked straight ahead like she was on a mission," said the woman, who was at Oliver Stephens school picking up her grandchildren.
She said Tori was skipping along behind the woman in the white coat, looking happy but trying to keep up.
The grandmother, who cannot be identified by court order, was the first and only witness called by defence lawyer Dirk Derstine.
He has suggested that Terri-Lynne McClintic, who has since been identified by surveillance video as the woman leading the eight-year-old Woodstock girl away, masterminded the abduction.
McClintic, 21, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in April 2010 and has testified against Rafferty at his trial, now in its ninth week.
Rafferty, 31, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault causing bodily harm in the April 8, 2009 disappearance of Stafford.
The grandmother told court Tuesday she got several good looks at the woman in front of the school, entering the school, and later on Fyfe Avenue in an image caught on surveillance video.
She said the woman caught her attention because she was wearing a puffy ski jacket on a hot day.
In cross examination, the Crown pointed out that the grandmother's memory conflicted with earlier statements she made to police in 2009.
Derstine announced earlier Tuesday that Rafferty would not testify in his own defence. Rafferty's testimony was considered crucial to counter the story told by McClintic, his former girlfriend, earlier in the trial.
The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.