TORONTO — Ontario’s highest court has dismissed an appeal by the convicted killer of eight-year-old Victoria Stafford.
Michael Rafferty was sentenced to life in prison in 2013 with no chance of parole for 25 years for kidnapping, sexual assault causing bodily harm and first-degree murder in the death of the Woodstock, Ont., girl.
Rafferty’s accomplice, Terri-Lynne McClintic, pleaded guilty in 2010 to first-degree murder.
Rafferty’s lawyer, Paul Calarco, argued earlier today that the judge made several errors, including failing to warn the jury against relying on the testimony of McClintic, and arguing that she could have been the driving force behind the murder.
Calarco also said some of Rafferty’s actions after the killing — such as cleaning his car, disposing of clothing and giving a false alibi — were “equally consistent” with being an accessory after the fact.
This just in. After short break appeal dismissed!
— Randy Richmond (@RandyRatLFPress) October 24, 2016
The appeal court judges dismissed Rafferty’s appeal before hearing the Crown’s arguments.
More coming
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