Westerfield's Fate In Hands Of Jury: VERDICT WATCH BEGINS in Van Dam Murder Case

CourtTV ^ | August 8, 2002 | CourtTV

[FresnoDA]

Jury's hands After two months of hearing evidence, jurors have begun deliberating the fate of David Westerfield, who is accused of kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam

[small_l_libertarian]

Musings: The jury is concerned about being influenced by the media. Two jurors sent notes to Mudd telling him that they were being affected. The media has been, as best I can tell, overwhelmingly anti-DW. The jury does not want to see or hear the media. Hmmm...

[Eva]

It is listed under general interest. Don't ask me why the message say "chat".

[The Other Harry]

Isn't it rather odd that during all the turmoil for them, they've spent so much time buying, trading cars, and what have you?

It's repugnant, but I think I've read where shopping is actually a stree-reliever for many people.

(Which, if true, still doesn't mean that the van Dams' hands are clean -- it just means they were stressed.)

[UCANSEE2]

NOW, for you posters that want someone to hang, that is undenialbly guilty, here you go

[UCANSEE2]

NOW, for you posters that want someone to hang, that is undenialbly guilty, here you go

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY

[CedarDave]

Having read most of yesterday's thread and all of todays, I'm hearing two different stories regarding the DNA:

The spot on the JACKET and MH was declared A PERFECT MATCH.
As John Jamieson said, the jacket went through the DRY CLEANERS, and it still came out afterward as A PERFECT MATCH.

And yet others on this thread have said it wasn't even proven to be blood!! What's going on here folks? Either it's blood or it isn't. Either it matches (partially or fully) or it doesn't. Did the prosecution and defense put on different experts who disagreed, or did just the prosecution put on DNA experts? Did Feldman address specifically this portion of the DNA evidence in his closing statement, or did he more-or-less skip over it? Regarding DW being in the VD house, I could go get a pair of latex gloves and not leave any fingerprints, either. And even if I knew the child in the bedroom (i.e. not a stranger), I would expect to have him/her cry out if awakened suddenly to see someone other than mom and dad, though in that household late night strangers apparently were common. DW's actions in going to the dry cleaners, doing laundry, etc., can be explained away as not unreasonable. So, in other words, for me, it comes down to the DNA evidence and the evaluation of that would weigh heavily in my decision on guilt or innocence.

And a special thanks to Shezza for yesterdays and todays closing summations - you were great!

[alisasny]

You have seen the R. Kelly tape?

I will save judgement thankyou : )))

As you probably know I am joking, I am still stunned that some idiot took these kids down there to praise this sick thing.

[UCANSEE2]

haha.

You have seen the R. Kelly tape?

no. and don't want to.

[VRWC_minion]

If the blood didn't match Feldman's defense would have had experts galore testyfying it didn't. Instead he was silent.

[the-gooroo]

Feldman was telling the jury yesterday that the orange fibers could have been transferred from BVD's sweater to DW when they were dancing at Dad's. The judge interrupted him and said something like, "You are misstating the evidence Mr. Feldman, her sweater was red."

[Lucky]

However, WHEN the DNA got there is the question.

[CAPPSMADNESS]

"I could go get a pair of latex gloves and not leave any fingerprints, either."

latex gloves do not "cover fingerprints. Latent prints can be taken with latex gloves on, and in some cases (extremely dry skin, psoriasis) they can even help "even" the print.

[CedarDave]

Yeh, I recall reading it could have been some time ago (maybe several months earlier), because the young lady was adventurous and could have cut herself elsewhere. But his going to the dry cleaners at that time with that blood on it, can lead to a conclusion that the "accident" causing her to bleed happened just recently.

[Eva]

Thanks, I must have missed that. That is unbelievable. It's wonder that Feldman resisted answering, no sir, you are missing the evidence. The fuzzy red sweater could have either contained some orange fibers or transferred orange fibers from a common source. We don't know, reasonable doubt.

At any rate, it gives Feldman grounds for appeal.

[UCANSEE2]

(1) It was not proven to be blood. It was "PRESUMED" to be blood.

The CLERK at the dry cleaners testified that he did not see any BLOOD or STAINS on the JACKET when DW gave it to him, and DW didn't ask to have any STAINS removed.

[Spunky]

"You are misstating the evidence Mr. Feldman, her sweater was red."

Feldman just stood there for a few seconds then said; "I would like a sidebar your honor." Judge Mudd said something like fine, we need one.

Afterward Feldman came back and I missed some of it, but he was still talking about orange, red-orange fibers and the possibility Barbara, Denise, Brenda could have transfered them. Something like that was said.

[connectthedots]

Feldman will get a new trial with that comment if Dw isn't acquitted. Major, major mistake for Mudd to make such a comment. The sweater wasn't red. The only person who could have objected would have been Dusek, who knew the sweater was orange.

[The Other Harry]

Feldman was telling the jury yesterday that the orange fibers could have been transferred from BVD's sweater to DW when they were dancing at Dad's. The judge interrupted him and said something like, "You are misstating the evidence Mr. Feldman, her sweater was red."

The Honorable Judge Mudd should be quietly taken away and thoroughly euthanized.

If I were on the jury, that would be my verdict.

[small_l_libertarian]

Not necessarily. The dry cleaner (who would have been looking for stains) said that she didn't see any blood on the jacket. Feldman pointed out that Westerfield also had a dry cleaning receipt dated 1-26 for a jacket. The blood could have been cleaned out then. That would explain why the dry cleaner didn't see a 1-3/8" bloodstain on a green jacket. Could have been cleaned at any time in the past, and we'd never know. Can't date the blood.

[oremus]

This is ridiculous. The whole circus is a disgrace.