A 28-year-old man charged with kidnapping and murder in a Woodstock, Ont. girl's disappearance has a new lawyer.
Toronto lawyer Scott Reid of replaces Hal Mattson in the case of Michael Rafferty, who appeared Friday in a Woodstock court via videolink from a detention centre in nearby London.
Rafferty's case has been put over until Aug. 21.
Reid would only say he will "vigorously defend" Rafferty, saying under questioning that it would be a "safe assumption" his client wouldn't plead guilty.
Rafferty and Terri-Lynne McClintic both face charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the April 8 disappearance of Victoria Stafford, who would have celebrated her ninth birthday this week.
Their trials aren't expected to begin until sometime in 2010.
Police continue to search for Tori's body in the Guelph and Fergus areas. However, they have not yet found any trace of the little girl.
With files from The Canadian Press
