Advertisement 1

McClintic called herself a 'vampire in heat'

Article content

LONDON, ONT.

Terri-Lynne McClintic was full of rage and obsessed with violent vengeance fantasies when she was jailed shortly before the murder of Victoria (Tori) Stafford, court heard Wednesday at Michael Rafferty's murder trial.

McClintic has already been convicted of murder in the 2009 death of eight-year-old Tori and is serving a life sentence, but is testifying as a Crown witness in the trial of her former boyfriend Rafferty.

He’s pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault causing bodily harm.

Rafferty’s defence lawyer used letters written by McClintic in a detention centre in 2007-2008 to portray her as a violent, vengeful, drug-crazed gang member.

Dirk Derstine led McClintic through a series of her profanity-laced letters to friends where she described herself as a “vampire in heat” who thirsted for blood.

She described in gory, graphic detail about getting out of prison and killing a random person, then dismembering and burning the corpse.

In a number of letters, McClintic vows revenge against specific fellow inmates and detention centre staff.

McClintic’s letters make frequent references to a group known as the “Murderous Bitches.”

One letter contains the names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses who testified against her on robbery and assault charges.

McClintic said the letters were only violent fantasies that were part of her “image” at the time. The letters are laced with symbols and slogans of the notorious Crips street gang in the U.S.

Mumbling in a soft voice, McClintic tried to deny some of Derstine’s allegations, arguing she was young and full of rage at the time.

Derstine said the letters appear to have been written only about a year before Tori’s murder.

Earlier in the day, Justice Thomas Heeney ruled the jury is free to decide whether McClintic was lying on the stand last week when she testified that she was the one who killed Tori.

That testimony contradicts a statement McClintic made to police May 24, 2009, when she said Rafferty did the actual killing while she stood by.

Heeney allowed the Crown to present the jury a longer portion of the video statement than they viewed last week, and to consider it as evidence, weighing it against the contradictory statements she has made at trial.

Derkstine’s cross-examination of McClintic continues Thursday. The trial is expected to last up to three months.

hank.daniszewski@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/HankatLFPress

 

Article content
Advertisement 2
Advertisement
Article content
Article content
Latest National Stories
    News Near Tillsonburg
      This Week in Flyers