jury is out until Wednesday 21 March: general discussion thread

[matou]

Would someone mind posting that motel picture again if possible. I missed it

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/0...ic-resumes-evidence-against-michael-rafferty/

 

[antiquegirl]

A few people now have mentioned here how they think MR is "fugly, a "fatso" and other names in regards to how he looks. I'm not really sure of
of the relevance? Do people somehow think that being ugly and fat makes one look more guilty? Or maybe it's difficult for people to ignore the
misconception that people who commit these types of crimes don't look like the guy next door? If MR is guilty, he certainly doesn't fit the stereotypical idea of the neighbourhood pedophile, nor the "boogeyman".

I can understand the questioning of his recent haircut, I doubt it's so that he can't be recognized at a later date because no doubt the media do their best to get photos of him, if he is acquitted he may want to alter his appearance, and rightly so.

Why is it that no one is questioning TLM's appearance? The photo of her at the Super 8 doesn't exactly make her look like the "pretty little number" that MR allegedly is to have said. What about her appearance now? Is the pretty bob haircut and glasses a way to make her appear more innocent, naive and demure? If it is, it sure isn't working with me.

MOO

(BBM)

I think the implications may have been to suggest that the defence might claim he is not the person caught on the ATM video in Guelph. However, there are hundreds of pictures of him available showing how he looked around that time, so that would be a pretty dumb defence tactic, IMO.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. I believe his weight gain is due to a lousy prison diet, lack of exercise, and possibly to the withdrawal from drugs. As for the haircut, it's hard to explain, unless you take into consideration the possibility of a really, really bad prison barber. (Or the barber had his own agenda for making him look bad?)

JMO

ETA: Oops! In re-reading, I see that some think he may not be recognized by possible former victims. As I said before his "before" photos have been widely publicized and easily accessible on the net and in the print media. It's been three years of lots of exposure. Anyone thinking they have been a victim should have come forward long ago.

 

[dilbert]

(BBM)

I think the implications may have been to suggest that the defence might claim he is not the person caught on the ATM video in Guelph. However, there are hundreds of pictures of him available showing how he looked around that time, so that would be a pretty dumb defence tactic, IMO.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. I believe his weight gain is due to a lousy prison diet, lack of exercise, and possibly to the withdrawal from drugs. As for the haircut, it's hard to explain, unless you take into consideration the possibility of a really, really bad prison barber. (Or the barber had his own agenda for making him look bad?)

JMO

No, I get that, I'm wondering the relevance of the comments that demean his looks. Who cares if he's fat or ugly, it doesn't change what he has or has not done.

MOO

 

[maxfactor]

A few people now have mentioned here how they think MR is "fugly, a "fatso" and other names in regards to how he looks. I'm not really sure of
of the relevance? Do people somehow think that being ugly and fat makes one look more guilty? Or maybe it's difficult for people to ignore the
misconception that people who commit these types of crimes don't look like the guy next door? If MR is guilty, he certainly doesn't fit the stereotypical idea of the neighbourhood pedophile, nor the "boogeyman".

I can understand the questioning of his recent haircut, I doubt it's so that he can't be recognized at a later date because no doubt the media do their best to get photos of him, if he is acquitted he may want to alter his appearance, and rightly so.

Why is it that no one is questioning TLM's appearance? The photo of her at the Super 8 doesn't exactly make her look like the "pretty little number" that MR allegedly is to have said. What about her appearance now? Is the pretty bob haircut and glasses a way to make her appear more innocent, naive and demure? If it is, it sure isn't working with me.

MOO

I'm not questioning her appearance because she has already pled guilty to first degree murder and is serving a life sentence. If I were to question her appearance it might be that perhaps she is off the drugs and maybe trying to change her ways.

I'm also confused about MR's hairstyle, I wonder if his lawyer knew he was going to do that. I would have thought he would have had a better chance with the jury with his hair the way it was before.

 

[~n/t~]

Maybe he's going for the fat defense. Like in this case.:what:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3373262...t/nj-jury-convicts-fla-man-fat-defense-trial/


Personally, I don't care what he looks like. Murderers all look the same to me. Devoid of souls.

 

[~n/t~]

No, I get that, I'm wondering the relevance of the comments that demean his looks. Who cares if he's fat or ugly, it doesn't change what he has or has not done.

MOO

No it doesn't but sometimes defense teams have specific strategies to make their clients look a certain way, imo

We've seen it many cases. They also alter the height of the accused chairs to make them look small and meek.

The weight gain can be because of the delicious pasta dishes in jail and the haircut....well...ummmmm.....I guess Vidal Sassoon wasn't available. :dunno:

 

[maxfactor]

This isn't related to Tori but I thought some of you might get a chuckle from it. Those of you who are worried about prisoners rights this might ease your mind a little.:waitasec:

Killer cop disgusts even Paul Bernardo

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/1148864--killer-cop-disgusts-even-paul-bernardo?bn=1

 

[nobodyzgirl]

No it doesn't but sometimes defense teams have specific strategies to make their clients look a certain way, imo

We've seen it many cases. They also alter the height of the accused chairs to make them look small and meek.

The weight gain can be because of the delicious pasta dishes in jail and the haircut....well...ummmmm.....I guess Vidal Sassoon wasn't available. :dunno:

BBM

I have only seen that happen in one recent case. It is going to be tough to make MR look small and meek given that he is sitting in a prisoners box all by his lonesome.

 

[dilbert]

BBM

I have only seen that happen in one recent case. It is going to be tough to make MR look small and meek given that he is sitting in a prisoners box all by his lonesome.

Not only that, but why on earth would the defence agree to give him that haircut if it only makes him look worse? Maybe he got gum in his hair too, lol

 

[Desdemona]

I guess MR had lots of patience, he waited about 2 hours before he "allegedly" raped Tori. JMO

And yet, do we really know this for a fact?

I have been pondering this question. The timeline... Just thinking...

JMO

 

[~n/t~]

BBM

I have only seen that happen in one recent case. It is going to be tough to make MR look small and meek given that he is sitting in a prisoners box all by his lonesome.

I didn't say that was the case here. I was speaking in general how defense attornies try to deceive a jury by altering their clients appearance and/or changing the height of their chairs.

fwiw.....it happened in the case I believe you are referring to Casey Anthony and in Heiny Neuman trial. (off the top of my head).

 

[~n/t~]

Not only that, but why on earth would the defence agree to give him that haircut if it only makes him look worse? Maybe he got gum in his hair too, lol

Bad boy but not a murderer? Who knows. Maybe that's the new doo in jail. :jail:

 

[roseofsharon]

MR haircut is popular with the Marines.

 

[matou]

And yet, do we really know this for a fact?

I have been pondering this question. The timeline... Just thinking...

JMO

Actually, he would have waited longer. Tori was pushed into his car at 3:32 or 3:33 pm and the Home Depot purchase was at 5:12 pm. It was 50 minutes later that they arrived at the location at Mount Forest, (based on the 50 minutes from the Guelph Home Depot that LE was asking people to check their properties). That means the arrival time was 6:02 pm. So he waited over 2 and a half hours to rape Tori. No, we don't know it for a fact yet. JMO

 

[maxfactor]

Actually, he would have waited longer. Tori was pushed into his car at 3:32 or 3:33 pm and the Home Depot purchase was at 5:12 pm. It was 50 minutes later that they arrived at the location at Mount Forest, (based on the 50 minutes from the Guelph Home Depot that LE was asking people to check their properties). That means the arrival time was 6:02 pm. So he waited over 2 and a half hours to rape Tori. No, we don't know it for a fact yet. JMO

I always wondered where the 50 minutes came from, maybe that was when his phone pinged off the cell tower????

 

[matou]

I always wondered where the 50 minutes came from, maybe that was when his phone pinged off the cell tower????

I think it has to do with TLM's info since the info came right after the arrests. JMO

 

[swedie]

Ok I was looking over pictures again and I noticed before, MR is wearing a white hoodie under his jacket. But upon further inspection, if you look closely, you can see that that white hoodie has a black hood with a red interior. I am highly suspecting that hoodie also has black stripping down the sleeves. That being so, it is more than likely the hoodie MR was wearing in the video, captured at the gas station, the day Tori was abducted. It will be interesting to see if the Crown retrieved this hoodie or if he disposed of it along with his other clothing along the route home. MR probably removed it during his assault on Tori. I thought I read in a tweet, TLM stated MR was naked from the waist down, only wearing a t-shirt.

I would imagine his hinky meter was screaming at him once TLM was taken in on April 12th and he did some dumpster diving and retraced his path back to gather any evidence which was toss out along the road way . Of course he didn't worry about TLM's shoes because he knew LE could ID her already from the CASS video. Little did he know LE would eventually seize other videos to nail him. Another case of how a criminal thought he could pull off the perfect crime, only to find out he really wasn't all that brilliant in covering his tracks. I would like to know if LE were able to clean up that picture of his car at the gas station to show it is MR driving. I guess it's not a big deal if they have better more clearer videos to show the jurors. Eg: ATM and the PetroCan videos. :rocker::woohoo::moo:

MR in white hoodie
http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Whats_2009/Michael Rafferty/DSC00888.jpg

Surveillance video showing driver wearing white top.
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/...don/raffertytrial/2012/03/06/pf-19469151.html

Images 23 and 78
http://www.scribd.com/doc/84386320/Rafferty-Trial-Evidence

 

[roseofsharon]

I question why the alleged rape took place inside MR's vehicle, rather than back in the trees or wherever, other than the temperature outside was too cold (which I can't remember). MR and TLM thought they were covering their tracks with other aspects of this crime, but IMO, exactly how much CSI did they actually watch.

If this has already been discussed, I apologize.

So, I guess what I am saying is, I don't know if I believe TLM.

 

[roseofsharon]

I can't find the link, but I thought MR said through his tears when arrested ...

"I didn't do anything", but on WS, I have read ...

"I didn't do it".

Is there any clarification for his statement. Thanks.

 

[swedie]

Not only that, but why on earth would the defence agree to give him that haircut if it only makes him look worse? Maybe he got gum in his hair too, lol

Maybe he shaved his own head.:waitasec: I think he is deliberately trying to change his appearance mainly for the jury, to raise doubt it was him in any of the future videos or pictures, to be shown by the Crown. MR has obviously gotten fatter and his appearance has certainly changed in the past three years. Not enough though to fool the jury. :moo: