5/15/2012--Sentencing

[swedie]

Enough is enough even for a Defence attorney. I guess Derstine will not be a "pawn" of Rafferty. He got a fair trial, he was found guilty so enough is enough. MOO.:moo::jail:

IF MR does appeal, I'm hoping Derstine laughed in MR's face and told him not to even bother. Advised him he's wasted enough of everyone's time and money. :floorlaugh:

I for one would love to hear the grounds for which MR may feel he wants to appeal. Hope the judge once again says to MR, "Mr. Rafferty, please stand up. Your crimes have destroyed the lives of Victoria Stafford's parents, her brother, her extended family and her loved ones. They have terrorized an entire community, who had thought its children could safely walk its streets, little knowing that people such as you lurked among them. That you were brought to justice is due entirely to the most massive and extraordinary mobilization of police resources that this province, and probably this country, has ever seen...

But most tragically of all, you have snuffed out the life of a beautiful, talented, vivacious little girl, a "tomboy diva" in the trustful innocence of childhood. And for what? So that you could gratify your twisted and deviant desire to have sex with a child. Only a monster could commit an act of such pure evil. You, sir, are a monster."

And my ending to add; "And with that you are denied your appeal you sick, sick thing. Go back to your cell and I hope you rot to death before your 25 year sentence is up."

How dare he even consider wasting a second of anyone's time to even consider an appeal. This thing makes me so sick to my stomach. MOO

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/0...rial-sentencing_n_1517851.html#judgestatement

 

[swedie]

While pleased the jury in London, Ont., had come to the right verdict, despite the judge withholding evidence that would have revealed Michael Rafferty as being as odious and reprehensible as they come, I was livid that all this country will do with monsters like him is send them to prison for a minimum of 25 years.

And then, after 25 years of living and breathing, they are allowed to roll the dice for parole while their victims, and their victims’ families and friends, have no dice at all.

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/05/1...fferty-verdict-law-is-in-this-monsters-corner

 

[swedie]

In the final weeks of Geoff Beasley's tenure as Middlesex Crown Attorney, he watched the conclusion of one of his biggest cases from the sidelines.
Regularly, he greeted the family of eight-year-old murder victim Tori Stafford on the steps and inside the London courthouse, where they spent a grim two months listening to the evidence that would convict her killer, Michael Rafferty.
Beasley had become a trusted confidante. He met with the family just days after the arrests and continued to meet with them while he planned the prosecution of Rafferty's girlfriend, Terri-Lynne McClintic.
They continued to meet him throughout the trial. He was everything to them as he's always been during what has been a remarkable career: trustworthy, empathetic and wise.
Beasley wraps up his career as a Crown on May 31, three decades after he began as a lawyer and more than 26 years since he joined the Crown's office.
Beasley's call to the bar coincided almost to the day of the proclamation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms -- and not surprisingly what he sees as the single most influential event in Canadian law in his career.

The McClintic case, he said, led to two of the toughest days in his career.
It was Beasley who first told the family the horrifying details of Tori's sexual assault and death after she was abducted from outside her Woodstock school. Until that day in a London hotel room, the family didn't know the facts or that McClintic was going to plead guilty.

But, he says, he knows it's time to retire. He is looking at a couple of new challenges, but is content to put his prosecuting days behind him.

http://m.lfpress.com/news/london/19782926?noimage=true

 

[Hello_Kitty]

This is a pic taken at the vigil and posted on the Sentinel Review FB page. Can you see the butterfly?

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hpho...89689335_289843009334_9809465_192258452_n.jpg

I can see it! S'Tori sending a message

 

[swedie]

With Michael Rafferty likely to appeal his sentence, our unease and our questions about how such evil can live amongst us will persist. The verdicts delivered by our legal system clearly reflect the guilt of both McClintic and Rafferty. But I have a sense that there is a different quality to their guilt. McClintic’s addmission of guilt, her statements of remorse and her admitted inability to explain why she did what she did stands in stark contrast to Rafferty’s repeated claims of innocence, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

One of the most difficult aspects of this case is the impenetrability of Michael Rafferty’s coldness and a heartlessness. While Terri-Lynne McClintic’s remorse has not eased the pain for Tori’s family, it humanizes her. In her capacity to inflict intolerable suffering on a little girl, McClintic remains capable of suffering herself. I have a sense that beyond the barriers of anger and alienation, she is still knowable, reachable. But we see no evidence that Rafferty has any ability to feel or to care. To the contrary he seems to revel in hurting others. Whether in obvious ways, such as the henious crime for which he has been convicted, or in more subtle ways, such as wearing a purple shirt, Tori's favourite colour, and her family's symbol in the court room. In my reading of Michael Rafferty, I cannot find even a broken shard of humanity.

http://www.csj.london.on.ca/blog/2012/5/18/tori-staffordthe-deeply-disturbing-story.html

 

[Hello_Kitty]

So I read the posts here over the weekend, however, I didn't want to post right away. I wanted to take some time and think about things. My first gut instinct wanted to ask you exactly what you heard, then the more I thought about things the more I believe I don't need to know every sordid detail about the crime, every rumour, etc. My thoughts are this. As long as the two players responsible for Tori's death are in jail and being held accountable that is good enough for me. If this speculation would have changed the outcome of the trial that is the only way it matters to me. I believe MR stated in his last statement before the court that he is indeed part of the reason Tori is no longer on this earth, therefore, he is where he belongs. TLM confessed to the crime, so she is also where she belongs. If there were more people responsible I honestly believe if Tara and Rodney had any clue as to this, they would be making it their mission to ensure they are brought to justice also. If it is only a detail of the already twisted crime, IMO, it needs to just be let go. We need to let this family move on and let Tori RIP. With every bone in my body I believe Tori was behind the jurors in that deliberation room making sure they saw the evidence for what it was to ensure justice was served. Point A was Tori leaving school, point B was her final resting place, what happened in between there, and exactly all the details of how she got from point A to point B don't really matter, only that the proper people responsible for this are held accountable for their actions.

All this JMO, and I hope none of it goes against TOS here and WS, if it does, by all means mods delete my post.

My belief is that it wasn't just Tori that was behind those 12 jurors, but the collective consciousness of everyone who was watching this case who believed without a doubt that MR was 100% guilty, even without the inadmissible evidence.

 

[Hello_Kitty]

Thinking about this a bit -- given that the child's date of death is in fact, the date of her murder (don't mean to insult anyone's intelligence, but just to frame this up a different way) I think it's a very emotionally healthy choice her parents made to omit it from her tombstone.

It stands as a monument to her life rather than a(nother) document of her horrible, tragic death.

IMO

kwim?

Given that Tara said it often enough that she doesn't want to be celebrating any of those dates, her own words 'I don't want to celebrate when my little girl was abducted, when she was killed, when I found out she was murdered, or when her remains were found, I want to celebrate her life' I would think that your statement makes alot of sense.

 

[swedie]

Video: Globe reporter Timothy Appleby says the murder trial was one of the most difficult he has ever covered.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...hael-rafferty-is-a-psychopath/article2432384/

 

[swedie]

Given that Tara said it often enough that she doesn't want to be celebrating any of those dates, her own words 'I don't want to celebrate when my little girl was abducted, when she was killed, when I found out she was murdered, or when her remains were found, I want to celebrate her life' I would think that your statement makes alot of sense.

Tara may chose to believe Tori will live on forever in spirit, that she is not gone and I would be the same way. The end is too final and hard to face. MOO

HK do you have a link where Tara stated these sentiments? Just curious and TIA.

 

[Hello_Kitty]

Tara may chose to believe Tori will live on forever in spirit, that she is not gone and I would be the same way. The end is too final and hard to face. MOO

HK do you have a link where Tara stated these sentiments? Just curious and TIA.

No sorry I don't... but I have heard her say that several times of late.

 

[swedie]

Rafferty cried and said he was sorry. I for one do not mistake this for remorse. This 31 yr. old by all accounts is a man of no moral fiber, a social misfit whose desire for self-gratification obviously knows no bounds.

SORRY?

I'll bet he was sorry, feeling sorry for himself. He's delusional. I'm sure he felt that somehow the ridiculous existence he had carved out for himself would be allowed to continue. The arrest, the questioning, the charges, none of these could shake him back to reality. Finally the sentencing seemed to do it and he cried, and not even crocodile tears for Tori or her family, but real tears for his own life, virtually ended. For Michael Rafferty it was always about Michael Rafferty. Classic psychopath.

Let's not discount the guilt of Terri-Lynne McClintic. Her guilty plea saved her from much of the scrutiny and public scorn. It almost becomes irrelevant who planned what, who did what or whose idea this was. At any time either one of them could have stopped this, abandoned their gruesome venture, but they did not. They both have the rest of their lives to feel sorry for themselves.

http://www.610cktb.com/blogs/lfedoruk/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10383819

 

[Hello_Kitty]

http://canlii.ca/en/on/onsc/doc/2012/2012onsc703/2012onsc703.html

 

[swedie]

24 minute video done the day before sentencing of MR. Exclusive Interview: Dirk Derstine, defence lawyer for Michael Rafferty, sits down with Global's Kris Reyes to discuss what it was like to defend Michael Rafferty. Dirk mentions how MR does not have a good support system; family and friends...OH?! :what::what: Why am I not surprised? :waitasec: He also states he does not have to believe his client is innocent. Interesting point clarified because I posted some time ago I didn't feel Derstine believed in MR's innocence, or something to that effect and I was told in so many words it would be unethical for a defense lawyer not to believe in his client's innocence. It's no biggie, just something I remembered going over and still feeling some lawyers have hearts, souls and morals. MOO

HOW IRONIC DIRK IS WEARING A PURPLE SHIRT...HMM

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwbBNgSO15M"]Exclusive Interview: Lawyer on defending Michael Rafferty - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Flowercb]

Rafferty cried and said he was sorry. I for one do not mistake this for remorse. This 31 yr. old by all accounts is a man of no moral fiber, a social misfit whose desire for self-gratification obviously knows no bounds.

SORRY?

I'll bet he was sorry, feeling sorry for himself. He's delusional. I'm sure he felt that somehow the ridiculous existence he had carved out for himself would be allowed to continue. The arrest, the questioning, the charges, none of these could shake him back to reality. Finally the sentencing seemed to do it and he cried, and not even crocodile tears for Tori or her family, but real tears for his own life, virtually ended. For Michael Rafferty it was always about Michael Rafferty. Classic psychopath.

Let's not discount the guilt of Terri-Lynne McClintic. Her guilty plea saved her from much of the scrutiny and public scorn. It almost becomes irrelevant who planned what, who did what or whose idea this was. At any time either one of them could have stopped this, abandoned their gruesome venture, but they did not. They both have the rest of their lives to feel sorry for themselves.

http://www.610cktb.com/blogs/lfedoruk/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10383819

Sociopaths/psychopaths know how to cry on demand, I read about it. They have studied people who have feelings, empathy, etc. in order to know what to do. They are capable of turning off and on whenever they like and they feel nothing. MTR immediately starting to text after Tori was murdered and buried is a good example of this. He cannot be rehabilitated, his genetic makeup along with no accountability up to this age--no chance of changing. It would be really dangerous for society on so many levels to let this guy back into the world. MOO.:jail: He is good where he is, keeping Bernardo company--may they drive each other crazy. lease::jail:

I would also like to add that the most distinguishing feature of a socio/psycopath is that they want your sympathy. MTR used all kinds of ways to do this with the women he was with--he would tell stories to gain the sympathy of each one. MTR even tried to gain Tara's sympathy when he said that he too lost a son. He will never change, he is a psychopath for life. There is a strong genetic component for socio/psychopathy so even people raised in ideal circumstances can do horrible things. MTR didn't even have a stable childhood from what I understood, being raised by an aunt and uncle for a time, moving around alot, etc. MOO.

 

[crazyladi]

http://canlii.ca/en/on/onsc/doc/2012/2012onsc703/2012onsc703.html

wow! Question does someone have TLM statement or has it not been released? What about her court hearing when she pleaded guilty is there any documents of what was said during that time or do we have to wait until the 30 days is up?

 

[nettie_82]

http://canlii.ca/en/on/onsc/doc/2012/2012onsc703/2012onsc703.html

I agree WOW!!! It is all there in black and white what a slime ball MR is.

At that point, she is drugged into unconsciousness by being given a soft drink laced with some chemical.

So the above happened in the movie MR had downloaded, makes me wonder about the speculation we have had here in how they kept her quiet in the car...

 

[JayFriend]

24 minute video done the day before sentencing of MR. Exclusive Interview: Dirk Derstine, defence lawyer for Michael Rafferty, sits down with Global's Kris Reyes to discuss what it was like to defend Michael Rafferty. Dirk mentions how MR does not have a good support system; family and friends...OH?! :what::what: Why am I not surprised? :waitasec: He also states he does not have to believe his client is innocent. Interesting point clarified because I posted some time ago I didn't feel Derstine believed in MR's innocence, or something to that effect and I was told in so many words it would be unethical for a defense lawyer not to believe in his client's innocence. It's no biggie, just something I remembered going over and still feeling some lawyers have hearts, souls and morals. MOO

HOW IRONIC DIRK IS WEARING A PURPLE SHIRT...HMM

Exclusive Interview: Lawyer on defending Michael Rafferty - YouTube

Clearly, Desrtine didn't really believe that his client was innocent. One question I would have liked to see asked was, what if he'd done such a good job that the jury had found Rafferty not guilty?

 

[Flowercb]

Clearly, Desrtine didn't really believe that his client was innocent. One question I would have liked to see asked was, what if he'd done such a good job that the jury had found Rafferty not guilty?

Yeah! Then how would Derstine go on with his life as the guy who helped keep a criminal on the streets. This my friends is the problem with our justice system. I don't know what the answer is though.:moo:

Obviously the Crown would have appealed this though and hopefully they would have been able to get a conviction then. Otherwise, we would have a killer on the loose. MOO.

 

[~n/t~]

Clearly, Desrtine didn't really believe that his client was innocent. One question I would have liked to see asked was, what if he'd done such a good job that the jury had found Rafferty not guilty?

It wouldn't have phased him, imo. He would've done his job. Gotten the killer off. Not the first nor the last, unfortunately.

Thank God for some common sense jurors in the world.

 

[nettie_82]

Yeah! Then how would Derstine go on with his life as the guy who helped keep a criminal on the streets. This my friends is the problem with our justice system. I don't know what the answer is though.:moo:

It's true what he says though, everyone is afforded the right to a defence. He is only doing his job. If there were no defence lawyers how many people would be put behind bars who are NOT guilty?! I personally could never do what Derstine does, but I believe the right to a defence is part of living in a free country.