The Crown Rests Its Case

Thursday, 26 April 2012 07:35

After 31 days of witness testimony of dozens of witnesses, the Crown in the Michael Rafferty murder trial has now rested its case. Following a day long testimony from OPP Special Constable Gerald Lanna, a Certified Forensic Video Analyst, (pictured right) the Crown presented a 20 minute video timeline to the jury. The timeline did not have any audio, yet the silence throughout the courtroom could be heard loud and clear as each and every jury member and members of Tori Stafford?s family sat quietly, without movement, as each segment was illustrated on courtroom monitors for all to see. The timeline began with a vehicle resembling that of Michael Rafferty?s that was captured by video surveillance at Oliver Stephen?s Public School at 9:04AM April 8, 2009. Then at 10:15 that same morning, Foodland security video captured Terri-Lynne McClintic shopping for grocery items. An hour later video footage of Michael Rafferty was caught on tape using the ATM at the BMO on Dundas Street in Woodstock making cash withdrawal. Several other video images were depicted of Rafferty?s car caught on tape from the Esso station on Norwich Ave at Parkinson in Woodstock ? minutes before Tori?s abduction. Then at 3:30 April 8th, the same vehicle in question is captured again from a C.A.S.S. video and again minutes later pulling into the Caressant Care Retirement Home. In that same time frame, Terri-Lynne McClintic is seen walking with Tori northbound along Fyfe Avenue outside of Tori?s Public School. Then, one and half hours later, Michael Rafferty?s blue 2003 Honda Civic is seen again waiting in the parking lot of Home Depot in Guelph at 5:01PM. Terri-Lynne McClintic is seen getting out of the car and hurrying into the store and returning with a bag containing a hammer and garbage bags and puts them into Rafferty?s trunk of his car at 5:13PM. At 5:15PM the images have left the video surveillance of home depot ? Tori is never seen again until she was found July 19, 2009. During the Defence cross examination referencing the vehicle seen on video at Oliver Stephens Public School, Dirk Derstine questions Officer Lanna stating ?you can?t say it was the same car? can you? The case was adjourned and will resume Tuesday May 1st with opening statements from the Defence to follow soon after.