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Judge Mudd Says Sequestering Of Jury Possible: Van Dam case has jurors facing more Mad-Dawgging!!
Union Trib ^
| July 30, 3002
| Alex Roth
Posted on 07/30/2002 7:13:26 AM PDT by FresnoDA
By Alex Roth
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 30, 2002
The judge in the David Westerfield trial rejected another defense request to sequester the jury but said he still considers it "a possible option."
Superior Court Judge William Mudd said he didn't think it was necessary at the moment but has asked the county to prepare "a back-up contingency plan" just in case.
Westerfield's lawyers have asked several times for jury sequestration, and they renewed their request yesterday. Lead defense lawyer Steven Feldman said he worried that the jury might be affected by the publicity in the Samantha Runnion kidnap-murder case in Orange County.
Feldman cited comments made by Samantha's mother about Alejandro Avila, the man charged with kidnapping and killing the 5-year-old girl. In an interview on CNN's "Larry King Live," Erin Runnion blamed her daughter's death on a jury that acquitted Avila of child molestation charges two years ago.
Feldman said he worried that jurors in the Westerfield case might hear about the interview and feel pressured to convict his client, who is charged with kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam of Sabre Springs.
The judge said he would remind jurors about news coverage they should avoid. He also said he talked to them about sequestration last week after receiving reports that someone in the media followed some of the jurors to their cars and wrote down their license plates.
"They're a hearty group and they didn't appear to be intimidated by what occurred, and I continue to believe in their integrity," the judge said yesterday.
With the trial in recess for a day, lawyers spent yesterday discussing legal instructions to give to the jury before they begin deliberations. It seems likely that testimony will continue into next week.
Prosecutors are expected to finish their rebuttal evidence today, at which point the defense will put on evidence to rebut the prosecution's rebuttal. One possible defense witness probably won't be called until Monday, Feldman told the judge yesterday.
TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: 180frank; danielle; kidnapping; molestation; threadjackals; vandam; westerfield
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To: VRWC_minion
- can be raised and lowered by inside switch
- some open if outside door is unlocked
- some close automatically when put in gear
- most open automatically when door is open (revealing screen door)
I'm pretty sure an average 7 year old could enter a motor home. Do you think all the thousands of families who take trips *carry* their children in and out ?!
241
posted on
07/30/2002 11:01:26 AM PDT
by
fnord
To: BARLF
I'm here, thanks.
To: VRWC_minion
Shifted from agriculture orientation to forensics. (Note to feldman=insinuate he wants to make name for himself)
To: VRWC_minion; redlipstick
FWIW, Its real dangerous to move RV around with the stairs out.Note new alternate theory:
DW didn't just leave the door unlocked, but open.
;)
To: shezza
Retired after 20 years at U. of Hawaii. Went to Chaminade(?) University. Became much more interested in forensic entomology.
245
posted on
07/30/2002 11:02:23 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: alexandria
Well, they looked in Danielle's room thoroughly----nada on orange fibers found there.
But lots and lots at DW's.
To: fnord
I'm pretty sure an average 7 year old could enter a motor home. Do you think all the thousands of families who take trips *carry* their children in and out ?!I was just reminded that when we camped with a child this age he couldn't get in easily without steps being pulled out. I don't recall he ever opened the door by himself without the stairs being out. That was my job.
To: shezza
Reboot a success
To: shezza
Explaining field of forensic entomology. Member of Entomology Society of American, American Academy of Forensic Scientists, also some sort of Forensic Entomology group. I didn't catch all that.
249
posted on
07/30/2002 11:04:53 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
Hooray!
250
posted on
07/30/2002 11:05:05 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: shezza
Has been teaching entomology since 1978.
251
posted on
07/30/2002 11:05:46 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: redlipstick; spectre
Name calling going on directed at you. Too bad and so unnecessary.
To: shezza
I'm going to wait to turn on realplayer until I get done searching for testimony on her blackened skin ...I hate ctv commercials ... will you stay on??
To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
CTV COMMERICAL ALERT
To: shezza
I.E., very impressive collection of memberships. Has taught in Hawaii and been active in crime scene investigations. Has given courses for FBI and other LE groups.
255
posted on
07/30/2002 11:07:07 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: VRWC_minion
I'm bored. Can we stipulate that he gets paid to watch bugs ? And get on with the testimony ?
To: VRWC_minion
Well, I think the theory that she gained entry on her own was always predicated on the idea that the door was unlocked and/or open. As such the steps would be extended, and if the exterior door was open, just a screen door barrier. I don't anyone here has suggested she 'broke in' to the MH.
257
posted on
07/30/2002 11:07:42 AM PDT
by
fnord
To: fnord
I'm pretty sure an average 7 year old could enter a motor home. Do you think all the thousands of families who take trips *carry* their children in and out?My parents have had a MH as long as I can remember and I know I could open the door at 6yrs old and I belive I was average height weight back then. Also, my friends when they saw MH wanted nothing more than to see inside with which I was more than happy to oblige.
To: shezza
Has also published 204 articles and several book chapters, and "A Fly for the Prosecution" (book).
259
posted on
07/30/2002 11:08:40 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: cyncooper
Namecalling? I think making false statements about my boasting that I don't listen to the Prosecutions witnessess is about as low as it goes.
Stay out of it, cyn. She can handle herself, albeit not this time.
sw
260
posted on
07/30/2002 11:09:11 AM PDT
by
spectre
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