Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mudd Denies Access To Transcripts As Well As Lineage To Hussein: Van Dams' Sex Life Still In Play!
Union Tribune ^ | August 19, 2002 | San Diego Tribune

Posted on 08/19/2002 4:16:26 PM PDT by FresnoDA

Mudd denies access to transcripts of closed hearings as well as lineage to Hussein


SIGNONSANDIEGO

August 19, 2002

Video WITH VIDEO
Judge William D. Mudd addressed counsel on a motion by defense attorney Steven Feldman regarding media access to jurors in the trial of defendant David Westerfield at San Diego courthouse, August 15, 2002. Westerfield is accused of the kidnapping and murder of seven-year old Danielle van Dam from her Sabre Springs home, last February.  REUTERS/POOL/Dan TrevanWith the jury completing its eighth day of deliberations without a veredict in the kidnap-murder trial of David Westerfield, the judge in the case has denied a media request to unseal transcripts of closed hearings.

The motion before Superior Court Judge William Mudd was filed by Guylyn Cummings, the attorney who represents the San Diego Union-Tribune and other media companies.

During the trial, a number of hearings were held outside of public view. Mudd denied the motion, reasoning that the jury was continuing to deliberate in the case and to ensure that "this deliberating jury is not exposed to any more publicity than they're already exposed to."

The jury should be free of a "deluge" of items that were not allowed in the trial, the judge said.

"I don't need the headaches," Mudd said, referring to seeing stories about the closed hearings in The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Mudd lashed out after an editorial in Saturday's Union-Tribune criticized his decision to banish a radio producer from the trial because the station she worked for aired the contents of a closed hearing.

The judge said he "had no idea" that he was the "Saddam Hussein" of the First Amendment in San Diego. The editorial, titled "Judge's overreach," does not mention Saddam Hussein or make allusions to the Iraqui leader. Read the full editorial here.

He said making the sealed transcripts public would cause prejudice that would be "hard to compute."

Mudd said he had no reason to believe that the media would use good judgment in reporting the contents of the closed hearings if it were to be released.

"What the public has heard is what the jurors have heard," the judge said.

Back to work
The jury returned to the San Diego County Courthouse in an attempt to decide the fate of the man accused of killing Danielle van Dam.

In all, Westerfield, 50, is charged with murder, kidnapping and misdemeanor possession of child pornography in connection with the death of the 7-year-old.

As of this morning, jurors had deliberated about 31 hours over seven days.

The twice-divorced, self-employed design engineer could face the death penalty if the jury convicts him of killing his Sabre Springs neighbor and finds true a special circumstance allegation that the second-grader's murder occurred during a kidnapping.

Brenda van Dam discovered her daughter missing from her bed the morning of Feb. 2.

On Friday, the jury asked for a readback of the testimony of San Diego County Medical Examiner Brian Blackbourne and insect expert David Faulkner.

Blackbourne and Faulkner were among a group of witnesses who testified about how insects found on the child's body could help determine when she had been dumped off an East County road near Dehesa.

Faulkner, a forensic entomologist, found 14 insect species on the girl's body when he examined it at the East County recovery site.

The witness testified that fly larvae first infested the body 10-12 days before volunteer searchers discovered it on Feb. 27.

On cross-examination by prosecutors, Faulkner conceded that he could not give a maximum time Danielle's body was exposed to the elements. Blackbourne testified that the body was in an advanced state of decomposition and that animals had been feeding on it.

He testified that Danielle died between Feb. 1 and Feb. 18.

Other experts testified that insects infested the body as little as four days before it was discovered to six weeks earlier.

Jurors also have asked for readback of the testimony of San Diego police criminalist Jennifer Shen when she was recalled to answer questions about orange fibers that allegedly link Westerfield to the victim.

Shen testified that orange fibers found wrapped in Danielle's choker matched orange fibers found in Westerfield's laundry. More orange fibers were found on a pillow case in the defendant's master bedroom.

During her second time on the witness stand, Shen acknowledged that if she had known that witnesses at a Poway bar said Westerfield and Danielle's mother had been ``dirty dancing,'' it would have influenced her evaluation of the fiber evidence.

Shen also told prosecutors that the amount of orange fibers found in Westerfield's SUV, home and motorhome made it unlikely the fibers were transferred from a third party.

Jurors also have reviewed the pornographic evidence in the case and asked to look at photographs that Westerfield had taken of his ex-girlfriend's teen- age daughter. Prosecutors told the jury that one photo of the daughter lying by the pool was sexually suggestive.

Jurors also listened again to a taped interview the defendant gave to a police interrogation specialist on Feb. 4.

Nearly 100 witnesses were called during the two-month trial.


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: 180frank; vandamswingers; westerfieldrailroad
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 261-280281-300301-320 ... 381-391 next last
To: nycgal; RnMomof7
Sean Hannity emailed back nycgal.

Here is a (satirical) excerpt:

Dear nycgal Sir or Madam;

I was delighted to receive a(n) letter/email/death-threat (circle one) from you.

While we have no wild birds on the show, we are considering having some parrots put around the stage.

I have never smoked Westerfield's and I certainly have never gotten any free, dispite what advertisers may say to you.

I would enjoy testifying for our Republic on any stage or forum you choose. (Subject to producer's discretion)

I often have made comments about italians myself, and have occasionally done so on the FOX show. As long are they are not depricative, you need not worry.

And believe, me, we also have experts that can give testimony on having to RUN for the MONEY! DO I ever hear you there, (my friend/pal/associate/co-owner) PICK ONE.

I am a fair person, at least fair skinned, and that you think I might not be objective makes me wonder if you are prejudiced. Any claims you make must be taken up with the legal services of our producers/owners/broadcast network (pick one).

I sincerely appreciate your (letter/email/death-threat) PICK ONE, and look forward to hearing from you in the future, Cordially, Sean H.

281 posted on 08/20/2002 1:31:54 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 240 | View Replies]

To: MizSterious
"Teacher's Pet?"

sw

282 posted on 08/20/2002 1:32:27 PM PDT by spectre
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 276 | View Replies]

Comment #283 Removed by Moderator

To: UCANSEE2
this is commentary about testing for trace minerals:

http://www.tracemin.com/hair_mineral_analysis.htm

Contamination of the hair can occur from air, water, perspiration and shampoos. This type of contamination is removed during TMI's sample washing procedure. However, contamination from dyes, permanents or bleaching of hair cannot be removed. These cosmetic procedure permanently change the structure of the hair and therefore, only natural hair (head, pubic or beard hair) is suitable for hair mineral analysis. Underarm hair is unsuitable for analysis.

284 posted on 08/20/2002 1:33:22 PM PDT by ican'tbelieveit
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 263 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
"This has to be my last post."

Promises, promises....

285 posted on 08/20/2002 1:33:57 PM PDT by MizSterious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 218 | View Replies]

To: alexandria
My youngest son (who's going on 34 yrs. of age), watched Sesame Street & Mr. Rogers twice a day, from the age of 4 months to age 7 or 8. He still likes to watch those programs when he has a chance.
286 posted on 08/20/2002 1:35:04 PM PDT by the Deejay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 279 | View Replies]

To: kayti
I will see if I can come up with them quick. You need another LAUGH!
287 posted on 08/20/2002 1:36:12 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 272 | View Replies]

To: Phyllis
Great find, the Orlando Sentinal article! Thanks, Phyllis!
288 posted on 08/20/2002 1:36:34 PM PDT by MizSterious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 229 | View Replies]

To: shezza
Well yeah, that's a "perfect match"! NOT!
289 posted on 08/20/2002 1:36:47 PM PDT by the Deejay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 278 | View Replies]

To: shezza
Darn you Shezza..I think I need new glasses, calling LensCrafters.

My vision is going...I can't see the "perfect match"..help!

sw

290 posted on 08/20/2002 1:37:50 PM PDT by spectre
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 278 | View Replies]

To: UCANSEE2
I think I found another weird thing, but I need to go back and read it very slowly.

Here's the link in case anybody would like to join me:

http://www.760kfmb.com/personalities/rick_roberts/fullstory.php?storyid=53

It's a story that lists all the DNA-type evidence and where it went. It's weird that they compared Danielle's hair to her underpants stain, but sent hairs from her hairbrush to be compared with the jacket stain. And then they said the hair from the hairbrush didn't contain enough mitDNA to test, but when I brush my hair, I yank out big old clumps, roots and all. EVERY day! How can there not be enough DNA in the hairbrush to test? And why is mitDNA an issue anyway? Just test Brenda, for goodness' sakes.

Anyhow, it may turn out to be nothing, but it would be great if one of you other suspicious-minded folks could have a look. Thanks.

Oh - it also says that the mitDNA lady's tests can't tell if a hair was chemically treated or not. I need to go back and find out the characteristics of all the hairs - who said which ones were color-treated, etc.
291 posted on 08/20/2002 1:37:50 PM PDT by small_l_libertarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 263 | View Replies]

To: kayti
"But it seems the person never really did leave."

She never does. Ever notice that? It takes about 3 hours of "I'm gone" before she ever is. All those tantalizing promises....

292 posted on 08/20/2002 1:38:16 PM PDT by MizSterious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 232 | View Replies]

Comment #293 Removed by Moderator

Comment #294 Removed by Moderator

To: UCANSEE2
I'd say Hannity's "form" letter is the oddest I've ever seen. "letter/email/death-threat)"??? He's not sure what type of letter he's replying to???
295 posted on 08/20/2002 1:42:45 PM PDT by the Deejay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 281 | View Replies]

To: UCANSEE2; kayti
" Take it to the Smokey Backroom or face suspension."

Kayti, what's that on your neck? Oh, wait--it's a big, ugly BOOT!

That's why I don't post on the Ministry of Truth other threads, only back here in smokey backrooms. The quality of people is certainly better here.

296 posted on 08/20/2002 1:43:15 PM PDT by MizSterious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 243 | View Replies]

To: basscleff
ThreadfrickinJackals

This being the Smokey Backroom, I think you can actually use the correct spelling for 'frickin'.

You gonna try? I'm not gonna try it, you try it! Hey let's get Mikey! Yeah!

297 posted on 08/20/2002 1:43:54 PM PDT by L,TOWM
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 259 | View Replies]

To: kayti
THIS IS FOR YOU, KAYTI!!!!!!!!

SESAME STREET CHALLENGE!

298 posted on 08/20/2002 1:44:32 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 272 | View Replies]

To: RnMomof7
Probably the placename Fatima in Portugal -- where the "Our Lady" orginally was came from -- was named after Muhammed's daughter. The Moors -- remember.
299 posted on 08/20/2002 1:48:35 PM PDT by bvw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 198 | View Replies]

To: UCANSEE2
http://www.labessentials.com/Microscopes_Experiments.htm
300 posted on 08/20/2002 1:48:50 PM PDT by ican'tbelieveit
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 263 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 261-280281-300301-320 ... 381-391 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson