Rafferty trial finishes looking at DNA on coat, gym bag
Posted April 12, 2012 6:28 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
LONDON, Ont. – The trial of the man accused of killing eight-year-old Victoria (Tori) Stafford is hearing that not enough DNA could be extracted to determine if two blonde hairs found on a coat belonged to her.
The hairs were found on a black pea coat in the Woodstock home of Michael Rafferty. Terri-Lynne McClintic, who has already pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the same case, has testified that Rafferty used the coat to hide Stafford in his car when she was abducted.
Jennifer McLean, a biologist from the Centre of Forensic Sciences, faced cross-examination from Michael Rafferty’s lawyer.
She emphasized the limitations of DNA and other testing, agreeing with lawyer Dirk Derstine that when DNA from two or more people is found mixed in a blood sample – in this case, Rafferty’s and Stafford’s on a gym bag – not all of the samples are necessarily from blood. However, scientists have determined to a near certainty that the bodily fluids belong to both the child and the accused.
Rafferty, 31, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping in Tori’s April 2009 death.
Once the testimony about DNA evidence is finished, the Crown has indicated the next focus will be on Rafferty’s ties to the Mount Forest, Ont., area, where Tori’s remains were found in July 2009.
Court also heard, Thursday, about the state of Rafferty’s car from one of his ex-girlfriends and neighbours, who gave conflicting testimony about when the seat was last in his car. It remains unclear whether or not it was there when Stafford was kidnapped.
The court also heard that in the days following the Tori’s disappearance, Rafferty was obsessively checking the news for updates about the eight-year-old’s abduction.
