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

[itsahoot]

Was the defense not given the opportunity to have their own
DNA or forensic testing done on the evidence collected?

Of course they were, just not the millions of dollars the state had.

[dread78645]

why would she not tell it so the police could get the real killer?

A good question. What (real or imaginary) object would overcome her point of finding her daughters killer ?

[FresnoDA]

Thanks for the trophy...I would like to present to Valpal1 for going into Stealth Mode..."Now that is a nice TJ..." LOL

FDA/frr

[Jaded]

No. Nothing of David was found at Dehesa. Nothing with DNA, no tire track, no foot prints etc. There are some fibers that they found that are similar in color and well fiber that were found in his environment. However, they did find many many other fibers at Dehesa and in the body bag that were NOT in David's environment. Then there is that little thing about the blue paint under her nail, and the dark hair that DID NOT belong to DW. But, those weren't important. We know this because Dusek said so.

[Jaded]

Hey stranger!!! Good to see you. Would you like a different nick name?

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

~~gIGGLe~~

[fatima]

You think that some of the men who came into the Van Dam house had sex with her.

[FresnoDA]

NEW THREAD ALERT....

Deliberations Resume Friday, 8-9-02 In Trial Of David Westerfield (VERDICT WATCH CONTINUES!)

[fatima]

But why would he pick DW,this is the part of many parts I do not understand,she runs away-he finds her in DW house and wraps her in his blanket.Where does her kill her ?

[dread78645]

if these panties could have been someone else's, or the vaginal discharge someone else's ...

Brenda's wide-glide in a 7 yr-old's panties ?
Bad visual, Dude !

Damon however ... Nah, ain't gonna go there.

[fatima]

Thank you

[fatima]

Not to worry ,you have a safe trip.

[Spunky]

I am listening to Prime Time Live. They are doing a story on Jack the Ripper.

Patricia Cornwell (writer also used to be a coroner) spent her own money to do DNA studies on Jack the Ripper.

One problem they had was when they collected the DNA they put it in a plastic sleave and heat sealed it. The probem she had with the DNA was the HEAT DEGENERATES THE DNA.

Dont they use heat in dry cleaning? If so how could they possibly have gotten a good sample of DNA off of Westerfields jacket?

[JudyB1938]

Easy to do if it is planted after the fact.

[Spunky]

Easy to do if it is planted after the fact.

But where would they have gotten her blood from?

Will check for your answer tomorrow as I am logging off now. Goodnight

[JudyB1938]

There was blood on her pajamas, for one thing. And on the bean bag. That's the simple part. The question is: Where would they have gotten ~HIS~ DNA?

[fatima]

He was tnere twice,only told about 2 nd trip.

[fatima]

From what I have read no DW DNA at dump site but fibers"or belongings (sheets, bedding, towels, except for sweater fibers) at the spot she was dumped? -were there".Only fibers on her nude body that matched fibers in locations of DW,.

[truth_seeker]

One of the stains was something like 1 3/16 the other was about 1/8 inch. I am not positive which was which.

The larger stain was determined by the test used, to be blood. Some say the type of test used doesn't completely prove it was blood; rather it could be some other body fluid (still Danielle's, however).

If this is such a big point, then Feldman either goofed by not arguing about it, or he feels the test is reliable enough to let it be assumed to be blood, by the jurors.

My belief is that Feldman knows that the test used IS highly reliable, and simply elected to not dwell on a highly damaging piece of evidence, eg. don't further highlight it.

[fatima]

I agree,old man at the end of the street,row houses and many years ago,it was the smell that found him-after 2 weeks,He had no family to check in on him.