MUDD MAD! Threates To Close Westerfield Trial To Media-Reports Of Mad-Dogging!!!

Yahoo News ^ | July 25, 2002 | Yahoo

[FresnoDA]

MUDD MAD!!!

Wed Jul 24, 8:33 PM ET

Judge William D. Mudd admonishes the media about attempts to photograph Neal Westerfield, son of defendant David Westerfield, as the son left the courtroom during a break in his testimony Wednesday afternoon, July 24, 2002, in San Diego. The judge had ordered the media not to film the teen. David Westerfield is accused of the kidnapping and murder of 7-year old Danielle van Dam from her home in February. (AP Photo/Pool, Dan Trevan)

[CAPPSMADNESS]

"Back in feb and march, the fights started partially because of that very thing. A lot of us couldn't believe the hostility towards the victims parents"

I don't know about hostility, but a lot of people were/are very suspicious of their behavior, and that of their circle of associates. And These people were berated for even thinking such a thing. Goes both ways I guess. I still feel that they should have never been cleared so early. I have never read of a case that the victims parent's were cleared within 24 hours. But I have never seen a murdering pig caught as quickly as I have in the past couple of weeks either.

Even though I will commend the LEO's for such fine quick work - I look forward to the day that they catch these bass-turds before the child is dead.

[Stiv]

What about the unidentified DNA and blue paint then, is that a hoax? I thought I rembered testimony about fingernail stuff. My brain must be going......going, gone.

I too was quite interested in the fingernail scrapings. Unfortunately, I missed a few minutes of testimony regarding an important area that held promise of evidence. Wanting to find out more, I emailed Court TV on the rather stupid assumption that might address my issues. Here is what I wrote:

---

While listening to Mr. Holland's rather redundant testimony confirming the hair found at various locations around the Westerfield home were Danielle Van Dam's, I somehow missed what he had to say regarding Item #28, scrapings from under the fingernails of Danielle Van Dam's right hand (Holland noted they could derive nothing from Items #27 and #29). What did he say about Item #28, and does it seem odd that none of Westerfield's DNA could be found on Danielle's body? Or would it have beenobliterated or rendered useless because of the length of time the body was exposed to the elements?

---

Of course, no answer or mention on the show....

[dread78645]

Coyote Ugly?

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

[Politicalmom]

My name is Inigo Montoya...

[Jrabbit]

Maybe, instead of writing in her journal and reading all evening, she was putting on fake fingernails and painting them with blue fingernail polish!! ( I'm pretending to be jrabbit now)

[BunnySlippers]

I look forward to the day that they catch these bass-turds before the child is dead.

Statistically the child is killed within 4 hours by child predators.

Hopefully, we will learn to cure these guys of fantasizing about sex and rape with children.

[Politicalmom]

You do a good impression of being a woman....

[Jrabbit]

Ahhhh-yes. It was the stealth lessons.

[BARLF]

Sorry I am so late to respond.......

You might try this for the article.

http://www.nctimes.net/news/2002/20020210/53130.html Hope it works,if not let me know. Title of article is: "Parents of missing girl start to think of future."

[cyncooper]

It could be that any trace evidence was destroyed by the environment she was left in. Some evidence was just lost by her condition. So evidence may have existed and been lost naturally (they had to cut off her whole nail to do the scraping). Nicole Simpson's nails didn't have OJ's DNA and I remember at that trial the specialists explained you really have to dig.

[CAPPSMADNESS]

"Rapists have tried to get rid of evidence by forcing the victim to take as shower...would all the trace evidence/his dna be cleared from her nails if he forced her to use a nail brush under water? Just some thoughts to ponder.. "

Kim, no offense but, you are still working under the impression that she was sexually assulted - there is no proof of that.

If she did indeed scratch her killer - taking a shower would not be all that effective in removing skin cells from her fingernails. And I don't believe a terrified 7 year old would be very skilled at using a nail brush. I doubt that the killer could remove all the skin cells even if he/she did the brushing themselves.

can you point me in the direction of the trial threads - I don't recall how much testimony was given on the condition of her body - I have a few questions, but have to have this info before I post them.....

[Mrs.O'Strategery]

Thanks for posting the link to that article. Pretty interesting stuff in there!:

Dave McNally, 36, had just bought the house between the van Dams and the neighbor who has been questioned repeatedly by police Jan. 31. McNally met the van Dams the next afternoon, hours before the second-grader disappeared.

"They came over to the house, brought Danielle with them, sold us Girl Scout cookies," McNally said Saturday. "The next day, he (Damon van Dam) came running over here, asked us to check our house, because she's known to sleepwalk."

I don't recall McNally testifying. Interesting...

[Rattlins]

Hildy, you have been watching too much TV!
I would say, at the present time, about 70% of the people
question the prosecutors evidence, as sufficient for
conviction, beyond a reasonable doubt! Unlike your POST,
I have found very few people, LIKE YOU, that would ever make the statement, "THAT HE IS GUILTIER THAN HELL"
Unfortunately, you, and some guy called cyncooper lose
any credibility you might have, by the way you POST!
Sorry that people like you could not be a little better educated and at least diplomatic!

[Karson]

"We have thought about the future," she said. "We try not to, but we have. We have two more boys who have to become productive members of society."

And this was when Danielle had been missing for 7 days. Unreal!

[Karson]

I don't recall McNally testifying.

He didn't and I was very disappointed.

[juzcuz]

-Evidence lost by condition-

Yes, that is true. In fact Tomsovic worried about a heavy dew changing the crime scene. Not only was he worried about heavy dew, but rain (on the day she was found). He said it had last rained in that area on the 17th. He also said his team got on their hands and knees and searched all around and under where her body was, looking for trace..
DNA evidence could have been lost naturally around nail tips, hands, arms, etc. Anyway, tiny fibers existed under her nails even if they had to remove the nails to get to them. It stands to reason if she gripped an arm, there would have been imbedded DNA stuff there as well.

[BARLF]

Well, Danielle's mother thought Danielle bit her nails.

[Politicalmom]

(Of course, she also thought she was a six foot, brown haired, green eyed person.......) : )

[gigi]

"We have thought about the future," she said. "We try not to, but we have. We have two more boys who have to become productive members of society."

Future Swingers?

[BARLF]

You are most welcome Mrs.O'Strategery.

As far as I know McNally did not testify.

The vD's didn't mention this so apparently they forgot about it. Wonder what time the cookie sale took place? If PDvD got home from work at 6:30PM and BvD was there with the pizza at the same time,surely took 30 minutes to eat(7PM) BvD leaves for the bar at what? 8-8:30?