Terri-Lynne McClintic, left, is transported from court for proceedings in the Michael Rafferty murder trial in London, Ontario, Friday, March, 16, 2012.Dave Chidley/The Canadian Press
Terri-Lynne McClintic, the woman serving a life sentence for abducting and murdering eight-year-old Tori Stafford in 2009, is facing an assault charge for allegedly fighting with a fellow inmate, her lawyer has confirmed.
Ms. McClintic's lawyer, Geoff Snow, said his client has been charged with assault causing bodily harm following an alleged fight with inmate Aimee McIntyre at the Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, Ont., on Jan. 30.
Both women are serving life sentences, said Mr. Snow, a London, Ont.-based criminal lawyer.
Ms. McIntyre, of Bobcaygeon, Ont., was convicted of first-degree murder after a jury found she coerced two men into killing her former lover, according to a report on MyKawartha.com.
Mr. Snow said he has spoken briefly with his client, but he has yet to review the evidence from the Crown's case against Ms. McClintic. She will appear via video conference in a Kitchener court on April 26.
"She's lost her freedoms, but she certainly hasn't lost her rights," Mr. Snow said of Ms. McClintic, who testified against Michael Rafferty, who is currently on trial for first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault causing bodily harm in Tori's death.
Mr. Snow wouldn't discuss the relationship between the Ms. McClintic and Ms. McIntyre, nor would he confirm if this alleged assault of Jan. 30 was the same one referenced by Mr. Rafferty's lawyer during Ms. McClintic's cross-examination on March 23. At the time, she told the court that she confronted a woman and it escalated into a "scrap."
If Ms. McClintic is found guilty on the assault charge, she will not face additional time to her current life sentence, Mr. Snow explained, saying that the sentences would be concurrent.
Mr. Rafferty's trial is scheduled to resume next week.