Perfectly Executed

Sebastian Burns and Atif Rafay (CBS News)

Beyond the damning evidence on that tape, the prosecution had another bombshell ready to drop on the defense. It wasn't the first time Sebastian used a movie as an alibi. When he was 16, he staged an elaborate cover-up to conceal the fact that he had wrecked the family car.

Prosecutor Davidheiser drew a haunting parallel between the accident scene and the murder scene. Back in high school, Sebastian went to great lengths to make it seem like someone else did the damage when he was at the movies. But the insurance company caught him in the cover-up.

Davidheiser pressed Sebastian: "You manipulated the evidence to appear as though it was something that it wasn't am I right?"

"Yes," says Sebastian.

"And the reason that you did that sir, was so that you could say that this accident happened while you were at the movies. Am I right?" asks Davidheiser.

"Correct," says Sebastian.

But, Sebastian said on the stand: "In the first case, I was responsible for the car scene. And in the second case, I had nothing to do with the homicide."

But Davidheiser would not let that statement go in front of the jury. He had more of that damning tape.

"Your behavior on that tape, when there's some laughing, did you think the murder of the Rafay family was some sort of comedy?," Van Sant asks Sebastian.

"No, absolutely not," says Sebastian. "We were lying and I was not thinking of the Rafay family when I was talking."

On tape, Atif told Van Sant, "To a certain extent, I had to essentially put the real events out of my mind entirely. So that I was really only thinking of the story that I was selling to Mr. Haslett."

"That's not a story that two scared individuals come up with because they think it's what two mafia characters want to hear," said Davidheiser. "That's the truth. That's the truth coming from the mind of Atif Rafay and Sebastian Burns."

But what would the jury believe? Six months of testimony come down to one final argument. The defense knows it is their last chance in front of the jury. "How many times does the evidence have to tell us it's not Sebastian and it's not Atif before we listen?" Jeff Robinson asks during his closing statement. He points to the bloody scene in Tariq's bedroom -- evidence of three killers.

« Previous Page
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Next Page »

44 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 44 Comments


by lance_smith2001 August 30, 2011 10:39 PM EDT: Their confession during the sting is powerful proof; why would anyone confess and boast about such a crime, especially if it involved a family member ? The brutality of the crime indicates an emotional element and/or a sociopathic one. These two appear to be a 'wicked attraction' with a dominant egocentric Burns leading the team. Being an armchair criminal shrink, I would say Burns was a spoiled self-centered child who became a nightmare adult version of himself. I would guess Atfif felt pressured to succeed and resentful and leaped at the chance to unleash his rage at this parents.; Reply to this comment


by aussie_jas August 5, 2011 8:07 AM EDT: Have to agree that eyecolor is too involved with this case. You clearly have no law background. I would have to say that you are either related to (in your words ) R & S or in love with one of them.
Atif's parents gave him life, he took theirs in return. There will be a day when he will show them respect and confess to the crimes he did as a teen.; Reply to this comment


by Reasonandlogic June 9, 2011 1:12 AM EDT: This is a perfect example of how the details given in a story can influence your opinion on guilt or innocence. I first learned of this case and formed an opinion based on how Tiffany Burns described the false confessions in her "documentary". Thought it was clearly a travesty of justice for her brother to be in prison. Good thing the jury was given the whole story or these 2 sociopaths would be walking free after this horrific crime. The sister of Sebastian Burns is now reaping the financial benefit of promoting her documentary, just as her brother reaped the financial benefit of the murders. Too sad for the victims, and sad for society that people are allowed to cash in on violent crime.; Reply to this comment


by truecrime10 January 7, 2011 6:44 PM EST: I find it interesting that Atif stated at one point in the interview "The single most distressing thing about this entire experience is the fact that I would even have to speak out and say 'yeah....no, I didnt do that.'"

Innocent slip of the tongue? I think not.; Reply to this comment


by jaydayb August 16, 2010 12:17 AM EDT: Sorry, I correct my last comment, [[Both men laughed as Burns recounted that Rafay's sister "was standing up and walking around" as he was attacking her."]].....anyway both of them are pigs, needed to be slaughtered , but extradition agreement with Canada prevents this to be done; Reply to this comment


by jaydayb August 15, 2010 11:37 PM EDT: I saw a website supporting them, but body language clearly is against both of them in courts ,specially Burns. Also you hear in his confession that her sister was not dying easily and kept walking , so she needed some more blows with the bat...shame on this animal; Reply to this comment


by ccmm22 December 2, 2009 8:18 AM EST: they do not deserve to live; Reply to this comment


by ccmm22 December 2, 2009 8:17 AM EST: they are both guilty and should face the death penalty; Reply to this comment


by degenova1 July 20, 2009 4:21 PM EDT: I wish I could have been involved with this message board Sept 2007 to say: it is obvious eyecolor2009 is a family member of Sebastian Burns. This person doth protest too much! This person is trying to convince themselves of his innocence. These 2 are guilty. It is obvious. Sebastian is evil. He glared at the jury. He has no feelings, is vacant. The link to their appeal is on eyecolor's post. They'll never get out of prison, thank goodness!; Reply to this comment


by candelitebc May 4, 2009 4:45 PM EDT: These two are much Leopold and Loeb. If I were T. Burns, I'd probably put the blinders on with regard to my brother, too. I don't understand, though, why Hurricane Carter went to bat for these guys, too. I feel justice has been served in this case, since they are not sentenced to death.; Reply to this comment