It?s been nearly 3-years since 8-year-old Woodstock Student Victoria ?Tori? Stafford vanished and now, finally, pre-trial motions have begun for her alleged abductor and murderer. 30-year-old Michael Rafferty appeared in court clean shaven, well dressed with suit and tie. His Lawyers, Dirk Dirstine and Laura Giordano, were also present, along with Tori?s Father Rodney Stafford, her Uncle, Rodney?s Mother and his girlfriend, Patrina (pictured on right). All of the proceedings are under a sweeping publication ban, preventing us from reporting on the pre-trial motions. The case was adjourned for the day after one hour, but the pre-trial motions will resume Tuesday morning, and may take up to 4 weeks. After the adjournment, Rodney spoke with several media outside the courthouse, unhappy with the decorum of the accused and his lawyer. "I was little upset, well a lot upset. One, my daughter's gone. Two, it's the fact that him and his Lawyer can sit there and laugh and joke and play in the courtroom. I said it before - I don't understand how you can be up on first degree murder charges, sit in the courtroom and laugh and play? These are serious charges." Stafford says he is doing his utmost to deal with the matter on a day-to-day basis and is able to do so by receiving the much needed support of family members. "I'm just concentrating on my daily life, just keep focused on what's going on in my daily life and what's going to happen here is going to happen no matter what - we'll let justice take its course and I'll have to live with what happens - just keep focused on my daily life and move forward." Rafferty?s Lawyer, Dirk Dirstine, was swarmed by the media prior to the proceedings and described how his client, Michael Rafferty, has been doing up until now. "Well, you know, he's facing very serious allegations and he's just anxious to have his day in court." A jury selection will be made near the end of February with Rafferty?s trial to begin sometime in March.
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