THIS is the reason, I believe, for the major differences in opinion that we have.
I believe when the MEDIA hype comes out and says something (especially during this case) you can assume they took it out of context to make the MOST out of it.
They have repeatedly done so.
DW told police it was a spur of the moment trip.
First, we must know exactly when this statement was made, and where in the conversation it occurred.
A big deal was made by the media and prosecution that DW said "this (the desert) would be a good place to hide a body".
BUT, we don't know exactly when he made this statement, and we don't know what was said to him before that statement.
For all we know, the POLICE said "Hey, what do you think? If You just killed this Danielle, where would you hide the body?"
But, the police didn't tell us what context his statement was in, did they?
I believe if they had, the jig would be up.
The police tell you anything you say can be held against you. What they don't say is that they don't have to tell anyone what they said.
I blame court tv for failing to make sure what it posted on its website was accurate. They did provide a wonderful service, as well as sandiego.com for posting transcripts..but to actually leave an entire page out is just beyond stupid.
I believe when the MEDIA hype comes out and says something (especially during this case) you can assume they took it out of context to make the MOST out of it.
With all due respect, I am sick and tired of this angle.
Believe me, I do not have a high opinion of the media. I have been watching the trial and form my own opinion. Sometimes I hear my observation and opinion echoed or mirrored in the media in this particular case. So does the other side.
You need to accept that some viewers of the trial see it the way they do because of the evidence, not because the media told them to think a certain way.
I don't think this clarifies the "spur of the moment" much but here it is in context:
REDDEN: Okay. Alright, so, ok, so, Saturday, what time did you go get that thing then?
WESTERFIELD: Um, let’s see. I got up, I’m guessing about 10 after 7.
REDDEN: Saturday morning?
WESTERFIELD: Saturday morning.
REDDEN: Okay.
WESTERFIELD: Went downstairs and opened the front door and turned off the front light, looked around. And got dressed, took a shower, got dressed. Then I left to get the motor home.
REDDEN: Okay, so was this spur of the moment or something you had planned?
WESTERFIELD: No, it was spur of the moment. Because I had a, you know, I had made a commitment to Gary to be at the bar on Friday night. And I knew that I had nothing really planned for today. So it was going to be Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.