Defense takes over craigslist killing trial of Stow teen Brogan Rafferty

AKRON, Ohio - The trial of Brogan Rafferty continued Monday morning with the defense team starting to present their case.

First on the stand was a 30-year-old woman who said she had been a dancer turned prostitute. She said Richard Beasley took her into his halfway house and presented himself as Chaplain Rich. She said she met Rafferty a few times and that Beasley told her Rafferty was his nephew.

The woman said at first, Rafferty was quiet, respectful, innocent looking and she said she thought that was cute. In the fall of 2011, she said Rafferty seemed different, lifeless.

Several witnesses were called to the stand that talked about Rafferty's character. They described him as a respectful, polite kid, but all noticed a change in him beginning in 2011.

Rafferty's father then took the stand, talking about how his son lived with him because the teen's mother had a drug problem.

Rafferty's father said he raised his son to be respectful. He also said he was friends with Beasley for more than 20 years. After Beasley was released from prison, he would visit on Sundays. He described Beasley as "very religious" and the person who took Rafferty to church.

After many objections, the defense asked, "after all you learned, do you feel your son is lucky to be alive?"

Rafferty's father replied, "absolutely."

Defense attorneys then asked why? The prosecution objected and he wasn't allowed to answer. 

Rafferty is on trial for the murders of three men and the shooting of another. The teen is accused of helping Richard Beasley in the killings after luring the men with a fake craigslist ad for a farm job.

Testimony is over for Monday and will resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday.