Trial Thread, May 1, 2012 Defense begins it case in chief

[JayFriend]

Coat did not have strips--witness excused, lol!! MOO!

There was a lot of debate here whether the white coat woman in the CASS video might have been carrying a black yoga mat case over her shoulder. It's a shame the Crown's "video analysis expert" didn't have anything on that. We see in the HD video Gallery Cinemas videos TLM's white coat had black piping down the sleeves, but that could not have been caught in the fuzzy CASS video. Maybe she did have two white coats. I remember something about dying a puffy white coat pinnk and then getting rid of it.

 

[Jezbel]

I re-watched the video of the green car, it doesn't actually look as if she is going that slow she could have gotten that good a look at TLM. Also re-watched the surveillance video, to me it looks like TLM's hair is down (like in the HD) video and also that her jacket is undone, not unusual to wear a ski jacket and have to undone if it is a little warmer out.

 

[~n/t~]

I cant believe this is all he had?!?!? It just makes me so angry!!! This poor lady was probably the last one (normal person) to see Tori alive....skipping and happy...my heart hurts so bad. What a rotton witness. Raffertys grave has been dug. JMO

Why does it make you angry? I'm rejoicing. It confirms they have no defense. Period.

 

[Wondergirl]

Francis D'Souza‏@cityfrancis

Def declined opening statement. Remember onus is on crown to prove guilt. Def doesn't have to present anything

https://twitter.com/#

 

[nettie_82]

Mike Knoll: @Matt - keeping in mind that I think it is all interesting, yes, there will be a slew of info released.

 

[Flowercb]

NO unless he wants to end his career.

And I doubt Derstine would do that for MTR. MOO

 

[KMouse]

I don't understand the purpose of putting an unreliable witness on the stand.
This is the only witness that has said that TLM went inside the school. Nobody else anywhere has stated the same. What's the point?

 

[Ardy]

Interesting that this information came out now.

In 2009, TM made comments about the school's responsibility towards making sure kids are picked up by parents or authorized people.

It didn't make a lot of sense until now, because TM had said VS was supposed to walk home alone, and the school wouldn't be responsible for that.

But now...........we know that TLM went into the school and got VS out.

Why did TLM lie about that?

Was it because she hiding the fact that she told MR she was looking after VS? Was it because it didn't fit her story of a random abduction? Was VS taken as revenge for something?

Lots of questions opened up with this witness testimony.

JMO..............

 

[Sailor Bug]

Sorry SB, I couldn't find the original quote.

What is innefective council?


Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor Bug
I think Derstine's going for ineffective council------------>on appeal

jmo

defendant claims before trial that counsel was ineffective in investigation, preparation, or for some other substantial reason, the trial court has a constitutional duty to conduct an inquiry sufficient to determine the truth and scope of the defendant’s allegations
jmo

 

[Flowercb]

I wonder if MR jotted all this down? WTH was all that note taking about? Am I the only one completely baffled as to why this went to trial? JMO

He may have wanted to take notes in case he took the stand. Derstine may have advised him that it was too risky and he took Derstine's advise. Purely speculation and MOO.

 

[nursebeeme]

Interesting that this information came out now.

In 2009, TM made comments about the school's responsibility towards making sure kids are picked up by parents or authorized people.

It didn't make a lot of sense until now, because TM had said VS was supposed to walk home alone, and the school wouldn't be responsible for that.

But now...........we know that TLM went into the school and got VS out.

Why did TLM lie about that?

Was it because she hiding the fact that she told MR she was looking after VS? Was it because it didn't fit her story of a random abduction? Was VS taken as revenge for something?

Lots of questions opened up with this witness testimony.

JMO..............

I still don't exactly believe the witness

(re: TLM went inside the school)

 

[Kamille]

Not one other person saw TLM enter the school...or in the school? Not one other child that was lined up waiting to leave? Children always notice strangers. So do teachers and other school administrators.

Okay so let's say TLM did enter the school. What does that prove? It proves why MR needed a teenage girl to help him abduct a child. Because obviously no one thought anything about it. So much so that not one other person noticed her.

And of course the witness got such a good look at that "puffy white jacket" that she didn't notice the very prominent black stripes down both arms and across the back. Didn't notice them when they were walking up the street either. Funny how those stripes didn't show in the CASS video at all. But they were very prominent in all other videos that were kept under wraps until the trial.

And of course this witness has no idea if the woman in the white puffy jacket left the school empty handed and was walking back towards the designated parking spot when a happy little girl came skipping out of the school towards where she was walking.

MOO

 

[Dmman]

Interesting that this information came out now.

In 2009, TM made comments about the school's responsibility towards making sure kids are picked up by parents or authorized people.

It didn't make a lot of sense until now, because TM had said VS was supposed to walk home alone, and the school wouldn't be responsible for that.

But now...........we know that TLM went into the school and got VS out.

Why did TLM lie about that?

Was it because she hiding the fact that she told MR she was looking after VS? Was it because it didn't fit her story of a random abduction? Was VS taken as revenge for something?

Lots of questions opened up with this witness testimony.

JMO..............

We don't know if that was TLM entering the school, that could've been a staff member for all we know. She didn't see her exit the school either.

 

[Wondergirl]

11:40
Mike Knoll:
@Alison - 6,586

Tuesday May 1, 2012 11:40 Mike Knoll

11:40

[Comment From Alison Alison : ]

How many online are following your tweets now?

 

[nettie_82]

I don't understand Grandma's testimony at all. TLM marched right into the school only seen by ONE person, this happens to be the same day Tori forgets her earrings and has to go back in to get them, then TLM and Tori march right back outside again and walk up the street? I REALLY DON'T GET IT.

 

[Sailor Bug]

http://www.simcoereformer.ca/2012/03/06/tori-staffords-mother-to-take-stand
Tori Stafford's teacher breaks down in court

A couple of minutes before the dismissal bell rang, Victoria asked if she could go back in the class to get the butterfly earrings her mother had loaned her that day. Victoria came back after the bell had rung and the other children left, about a minute later.

Tori wasn’t wearing the earrings, so Murrell asked the girl if she had them.

Tori said “yep,” so the teacher assumed she had them in her backpack or pocket.

“OK, hon, we’ll see you tomorrow,” Murrell said.

“And then she went out the door,” she told the jury, her voice cracking with sorrow.

 

[Oldsoul2]

What could the defense possibly do to prove that MR was actually duped in the first place. It is all hearsay, she said he said but the evidence presented by the Crown of the actual events is solid. I knew from the get go there was no possible way this defense was going to have anything when they opened with were not denying he was there theory.

 

[~n/t~]

Derstine requested a break.....without the jury.

Does he want a do over? bwahahaha

 

[Wondergirl]

Francis D'Souza‏@cityfrancis

#ToriStafford murder trial about to resume, going back in.

https://twitter.com/#

 

[JayFriend]

Steven D'Souza ‏ @cbcsteve
Crown says it was 8 degrees on Apr. 8/09 so wearing a white coat isn't out of ordinary, witness agrees #sl



FWIW It's 8 degrees here today where I am and I'm wearing my coat!!!

The witness was adamant about a ski jacket being a bit warm for the spring weather, but she was sitting inside a minivan with the heater going, no doubt. Okay, maybe the "spring" weather this year has been a bit crazier than then, but so far I've worn a ski jacket or a t-shirt at various times.