trial thread: 4/02/2012

[swedie]

Mr. Rafferty, too, was brought along, driven from his London jail cell in a heavy-duty police Suburban with tinted windows. But he did not leave the vehicle, which remained parked at the entrance to the pathway, with marked police cruisers up and down the road.

I did not think MR would be allowed to leave the confines of a vehicle but wow, wow, wow, a heavy duty police Suburban?! (Bet you it was bullet proof). There was a reason for this. First off he is an accused child rapist, abductor and murderer. I would imagine there are a lot of people who would rather see him dead regardless of his trial. I speculate this also being why it was just announced this morning that the jurors would be taking the tour of the crime scene. Less chance of enraged people showing up at the scene. I realize now they had the road block off for miles. JMHO

I had visions of a sniper in a ghillie suit, hiding in a bush where he was camped out all night waiting for MR's arrival, and catching him as he was walking up memory lane...ikes.:what::moo: Yes there certainly are a lot of sick minded people out there. :moo:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...ere-tori-staffords-body-found/article2389019/

 

[Sillybilly]

That's another possibility. I have always hoped that we would find out that Tori had been drugged so she didn't suffer as much. But then why wouldn't TLM admit to it? I'm very dismayed that we've heard nothing about this.

JMO

That's been my hope as well, AG. Might explain Tori not calling out for help when they were around other people. Perhaps she was drugged in some fashion and TLM simply didn't know it. If so, we can be sure MTR wouldn't be tellin'.

Guess we'll have to wait for the pathology/toxicology report to know if anything was detectable.

 

[snoofer]

More info here, and a video of TLM and MTR from an earlier article.



http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...ere-tori-staffords-body-found/article2389019/

a possible teen hangout of his at one time?:moo:

 

[snoofer]

Maybe he cried. :moo:

maybe LE were afraid he might get hit by a BIG rock? :moo:

 

[nettie_82]

I noticed in link above, in the pic of LE closing the gate that all of the purple flowers that were on the gate were removed....they were there yesterday!

Tori's family was there prior to the Jury and MTR arriving. Maybe they removed the flowers themselves?

 

[snoofer]

:moo:

Indeed, that was my first thought, but then I figured that if the public isn't allowed near the scene, and the reporters do not wish to lose their jobs/freedom... once he gets there, he really isn't in that much danger.
Unless he asked to be hidden? I imagine, guilty or innocent, he is probably pretty embarrassed/ashamed and he might not want people to see him.

especially IF HE DOES know the locals who might be there...ya could be embarrassing for him for sure

 

[JayFriend]

Mr. Rafferty, too, was brought along, driven from his London jail cell in a heavy-duty police Suburban with tinted windows. But he did not leave the vehicle, which remained parked at the entrance to the pathway, with marked police cruisers up and down the road.

I did not think MR would be allowed to leave the confines of a vehicle but wow, wow, wow, a heavy duty police Suburban?! <snip>

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...ere-tori-staffords-body-found/article2389019/

I believe his presence was a formality so all the "i"s were dotted and "t"s crossed. Nobody has denied he was there around the time of the crime. What would be there that he'd want to see now? Even if he wanted to look around out of morbid curiosity, his lawyer would have advised him against it, I'm sure, because he'd have to be shackled and escorted by armed guards, with nobody within "range" (interpret that as you wish). It's also quite possible he didn't really want to go. Why would he? However, declining to go might send the the wrong message, like feelings of guilt, so in my opinion, his lawyer probably insisted he go. (But what proof do we have that he actually was in the heavily tinted Suburban?)

 

[Tink]

Who knows what he was thinking. IIRC, he had snow tires on the car. They took a lot of risks already that afternoon (not the least of which was being stopped by a cop during that two-hour trip for any traffic violation.) Why not another one? Unless he didn't consider it a risk at all, as "TLM was just babysitting Tori and he had no idea what was going to happen" (as per some people's possible theory.)

JMO

I don't think it was a big risk to be seen with a child in a car. At that point, the video of Tori wasn't being shown everywhere. Who would think anything about a couple with a child in the backseat of their car? Even if she was crying or looked upset - well, that happens for all kinds of reasons. I suspect he was driving reasonably carefully so the cops would have no reason to stop him.

I do think he was probably familiar with that laneway, though, because it doesn't make sense to me to go down an unpaved track (snowtires or not) and risk getting stuck if you don't have some idea where it's taking you.

Tink

 

[matou]

When the trial resumes on Tuesday, the prosecution is expected to call pathologist Michael Pollanen as its next witness.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...t-site-where-toris-body-found/article2389019/

 

[matou]

Dr. Michael Pollanen was the Chief pathologist from the Center for Forensic Science in Toronto when Tori's body was discovered in July 2009.

 

[flipflop]

That's another possibility. I have always hoped that we would find out that Tori had been drugged so she didn't suffer as much. But then why wouldn't TLM admit to it? I'm very dismayed that we've heard nothing about this.

JMO

I have hoped that as well. JMO I feel that VS felt she was in danger when they headed out of Woodstock, Im sure she was feisty and loud, perhaps this is why they needed to stop at Timmies, to mix something in her juice to keep her quiet.

 

[Salem]

~Respectfully snipped~

But somehow I'm not expecting any conclusive DNA or forensic evidence that can either rule in or rule out a sexual assault. I can't see Derstine going ahead with this trial if it can absolutely be ruled in and I can't see the Crown proceeding if it can absolutely be ruled out. So this case, IMO, is going to have to be resolved the old fashioned way.

MOO

Great post Kamille - I just want to say, that here in the states and I'm assuming in Canada also - it is the defendant's choice to move forward with a trial. Even if there was so much DNA evidence you could swim in it and defendant's lawyer strongly recommended not going forward with a trial because there was no way to win - the defendant has the final say. The defendant always has the right to make the state (or in Canada, the Crown) prove their case.

This worked out quite well for Casey Anthony. Not to derail the thread, but there was more than one plea deal put in front of her and she refused them all and I would bet money (this is just my opinion) that her lawyer recommended she accept one or two of those deals.

Salem

 

[Tink]

And I can't help but wonder if some other people are looking at the Casey Anthony case and (even if they are guilty and seem to have a lot of evidence against them) thinking "what the heck, it's worth a try, it worked for her."

Tink

 

[flipflop]

I don't think it was a big risk to be seen with a child in a car. At that point, the video of Tori wasn't being shown everywhere. Who would think anything about a couple with a child in the backseat of their car? Even if she was crying or looked upset - well, that happens for all kinds of reasons. I suspect he was driving reasonably carefully so the cops would have no reason to stop him.

I do think he was probably familiar with that laneway, though, because it doesn't make sense to me to go down an unpaved track (snowtires or not) and risk getting stuck if you don't have some idea where it's taking you.

Tink

Whether he had been there before or not, he took the risk of getting stuck either way. JMO

 

[matou]

~Respectfully snipped~

Great post Kamille - I just want to say, that here in the states and I'm assuming in Canada also - it is the defendant's choice to move forward with a trial. Even if there was so much DNA evidence you could swim in it and defendant's lawyer strongly recommended not going forward with a trial because there was no way to win - the defendant has the final say. The defendant always has the right to make the state (or in Canada, the Crown) prove their case.

This worked out quite well for Casey Anthony. Not to derail the thread, but there was more than one plea deal put in front of her and she refused them all and I would bet money (this is just my opinion) that her lawyer recommended she accept one or two of those deals.

Salem

Paul Bernardo also pleaded not guilty. JMO

 

[Hello_Kitty]

Tori's family was there prior to the Jury and MTR arriving. Maybe they removed the flowers themselves?

It's also possible the owners of the land removed them.

 

[dilbert]

I have hoped that as well. JMO I feel that VS felt she was in danger when they headed out of Woodstock, Im sure she was feisty and loud, perhaps this is why they needed to stop at Timmies, to mix something in her juice to keep her quiet.

Did MR buy her a juice? I thought he only bought TLM a tea?

 

[flipflop]

It's also possible the owners of the land removed them.

It was stated in the media that LE where there prior to the viewing today, to secure and clear the land. Therefore, Im sure they removed anything and everything including the flowers.JMO

 

[Hello_Kitty]

I believe his presence was a formality so all the "i"s were dotted and "t"s crossed. Nobody has denied he was there around the time of the crime. What would be there that he'd want to see now? Even if he wanted to look around out of morbid curiosity, his lawyer would have advised him against it, I'm sure, because he'd have to be shackled and escorted by armed guards, with nobody within "range" (interpret that as you wish). It's also quite possible he didn't really want to go. Why would he? However, declining to go might send the the wrong message, like feelings of guilt, so in my opinion, his lawyer probably insisted he go. (But what proof do we have that he actually was in the heavily tinted Suburban?)

Apparently the person who wrote the article was in the know.

 

[flipflop]

Did MR buy her a juice? I thought he only bought TLM a tea?

No idea, that was all JMO as I stated!