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

[UCANSEE2]

I know in my heart that the parents of Danielle did not kill her.

That is fine. If you believe that in your heart, no one need question you further. Since you didn't answer any of the questions posed, you apparently do not want to consider it.

I won't ask you to any more.

Let us hope and pray (for the other children of the Van Dam's) that you are correct.

Let us pray the police did not make a mistake. That the real killer is not still on the loose.

Did you go to WWW.MCF.TV and read what Danielle is supposed to have written in her diary?

[small_l_libertarian]

The bugs still work against Damon if you believe that the body was originally somewhere not exposed to bugs, but then moved to Dehesa by Damon during his wild ride through the desert on the 16th.

That is not my theory, but it is certainly a workable theory.

[fatima]

Nice,Want to learn but have a beautiful lady who just learned and redoes our old Holy things for ebay and she lives next door to the artist for the Holy Father for certain works.I love art.

[BARLF]

I believe the LE picked the jacket up from cleaners. Dw never got it back. At least that was my understanding.....

[CedarDave]

Takes something out of DW' laundry room to wrap Danielle in or maybe he wrapped her in a comforter or sheet that was on DW's bed where he found her. and drives her body somewhere and dumps it.

Speculation on your part, or did they find DW belongings and DNA at the site where they found her??

[the-gooroo]

All I remember about those pj's is that they were found on the floor and that she had "soiled" them. Also that there was blood on the cuff. I assumed it was urine. Do you know who testified to this?

[Valpal1]

The only problem with this "alleged" journal/diary entry of Danielle's is that there is no testimony that it exists.

The man, Douglas Pierce, who claimed it exists was never called as a witness, why not? He's just what the defense needs to clinch the
pointing finger of doubt at Damon.

I have maintained from the beginning that DP is a lying coconut and his claims about the journal are totally bogus.

That's why he was not called to testify, and the journal wasn't used, because there is nothing unusual or sinister in it.

The claims about the journal are slanderous rumour started by Douglas Pierce, making speculations based on them totally specious.

[UCANSEE2]

You reminded me of the insurance money...so there is one other theory I've been thinking about....I almost hate to say it, but...maybe Damon planted these things ahead of time....possible or not?

Way back on the threads, (I think SPECTRE, or MIZSTERIOUS oR FRESNODA could point to this exactly) there was a story about DAMON and how he discussed that HE WOULD GET REVENGE on someone by planting some kind of evidence in the handlebars of their bicycle. This must have been when he was an adolescent. SO, he admits to this being a personal trait.

Would he do it as an adult?

[fatima]

But he was wearing a black jacket and to some he keep the other jacket in MH,do you think she had sex with him?It was said he left early.

[UCANSEE2]

Sounds like Danielle had a lot of friends over (children friends, kids who sneeze, drool, even bleed on occasion -- in other words, typical kids).

(1) If Brenda 'watches' the kids the way we think she does, Danielle could have had everyone on the planet in their house and Brenda wouldn't have known about it.

According to the neighbors, none of them KNEW the VD's closely, or let their kids play there.

Only one neighbor had a daughter that Danielle played with and that slept over. (the other neighbors probably didn't like the POT/COCAINE/EXSTACY/ and ORGIES in the GARAGE while their KIDS were around idea!)

SO, It would be real hard to tell if Danielle had LOTS OF FRIENDS over or not. (Maybe lots of UNWANTED/over 30 year old friends of her DAD's).

[small_l_libertarian]

Do I personally think that? No. Do I think it's possible? Definitely. She was trying to pick up sex partners at Dad's.

My own thought is that Danielle was abducted by someone else, likely the same person who took Samantha Runnion. I think that Danielle was actually missing much earlier in the day than the parents are admitting - I think that's what they're lying about, not that they killed Danielle.

What I KNOW is that the state did not prove that DW killed Danielle. I would definitely hold out and hang this jury, if I were on it.

[Green]

There are many reasons why certian things were not introduced into evidence or why certain people were not called to testify for the defense. There were numerous pre-trial hearings that were closed to public and media where it is presumed there were arguments by both sides of what could be admitted and presented. It could very well be that the judge was very careful about allowing any testimony that would point at the parents. In fact, the way he sustained objections made by Dusek during Feldman's cross of the parents and other witnesses, it was very apparent he was allowing very little, if any, testimony get in that would have pointed any finger the parent's direction. We do not know that the defense did not want to call this person as a witness.

[Green]

I've seen several references to the VDs using cocaine in this thread. Where did that come from? I thought the only thing they admitted to was pot.

[Lucky]

Sounds like a scheming mind to me.

[small_l_libertarian]

Good point, Green.

[crystalk]

Very possible it was some of the same DNA from the vaginal discharge, that was mixed with horseradish-cocktail sauce and put onto DW's jacket and floor.

[fatima]

Jaded,I was in work and missed this ,do you remember his words.

[sawsalimb]

No, I'm leaning against convicting him. Reasonable doubt.

You know,I have a whole bunch of reasonable doubts,but here's an observation. WARNING!!! This is rank speculation on my part,and based on nothing but looking at a few pictures of Westerfield and VanDam. Take it for what it's worth,which is very little.

If I was broken down in the middle of nowhere and Westerfield pulled up and offered me a ride,I'd probably hop in. If VanDam made the same offer,I believe I'd decline the favor.

[UCANSEE2]

As I recall, the ploice speculated that DW might have taken things to the cleaners. But they had to check out the cleaning establishments to locate which one. Luckily they found the right cleaners on the first or second contact. Anyone else recall this info???

DW told police he took stuff to the drycleaners.

Everyone harped on how DW told them about the second trip, not the first (yes he made two trips). That turned out to be another POLICE MISINFORMATION. It is still being used in court as a claim DW lied, but it has been proven he didn't.

Another case of LE lying about statements.

[CedarDave]

You're getting pretty far out there with that one. It's pretty obvious they had a strange lifestyle, and he may well have molested her (though why with all the available ladies around), but letting his friends do her too, that's way too sick even to be suggesting. And it badly hurts your other arguements about DW being innocent, or framed. The evidence is what it is, and those of us that are undecided are trying to come up with likely, reasonable alternatives for some of the more damning evidence. Danielle in the motor home with a nosebleed is plausible, DNA similar to hers from her mother "doing" DW is certainly plausible, but DVD giving his 7-year old daughter to his friends is not. You may have shot yourself badly with that suggestion.