Trial for Tori Stafford’s accused killer underway
Posted January 16, 2012 9:54 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Nearly three years after the murder of eight-year-old Woodstock, Ont., girl Tori Stafford, the trial for her accused killer, Michael Rafferty, began Monday.
Rafferty, 30, appeared briefly in a London court for the start of the preliminary hearing that is expected to last several weeks, which will be followed by jury selection expected to begin Feb. 27.
The preliminary hearing is covered by a publication ban. Rafferty’s trial, which is expected to last three months, was moved to London due to concerns he wouldn’t receive a fair trial in Woodstock.
Tori’s father Rodney Stafford was in court Monday and told CityNews it’s been very difficult — “everything from sadness, heartache, pain.”
“Sometimes you get the odd little bit of happy memories, but that turns tragic because she’s gone. All you can think about is that horrible day.”
He said he doesn’t think the outcome of the trial will bring closure for him and his family.
“As much as I’d like to think it would, I don’t think it will,” he said. “’cause we’ll be living through this every day. Our family will never be able to get over it.”
Rafferty was charged with first-degree murder and abduction.
Rafferty’s former girlfriend, Terri-Lynne McClintic, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2010 and is currently serving a life sentence.
Tori was in Grade 3 when she disappeared on April 8, 2009, from her Woodstock elementary school. Her remains were found about 100 kilometres away, in Mount Forest, three months later, in June.
