Posted on 08/12/2002 10:16:25 PM PDT by FresnoDA
The six-man, six-woman panel was handed the case Thursday after more than two months of testimony.
According to search warrant affidavits made public after six months under seal, Westerfield admitted to police that he dropped off bedding and other items at a Poway dry cleaners two days after Danielle disappeared.
The warrants and affidavits had been sealed since shortly after the girl's mother discovered her missing from her bed the morning of Feb. 2. Last week, the 4th District Court of Appeal ordered the documents unsealed.
Westerfield, 50, a self-employed design engineer, is charged with murder, kidnapping and possession of child pornography.
He could face the death penalty if the jury finds true a special circumstance allegation that the murder of the 7-year-old happened during a kidnapping.
The trial, which started June 4, included 23 days of testimony, 98 witnesses and 199 court exhibits.
Trial observers say the deliberations could come down to DNA vs. bugs -- DNA evidence that the victim was in the suspect's motor home versus testimony from defense forensic experts who said bugs on the girl's body indicated it had been dumped while the suspect was under police surveillance.
The alleged swinging lifestyle of the victim's parents, Brenda and Damon van Dam, also could factor into the jury's verdict.
Defense attorney Steven Feldman told jurors forensic evidence involving bugs on the victim's body proved it was "impossible" for his client to have dumped the body beside an East County road, where it was discovered Feb. 27.
The defense claimed throughout the trial that Westerfield was under tight surveillance by police and the media beginning Feb. 5, three days after the Sabre Springs girl was discovered missing from her bed.
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Prosecutors contend the defense did not represent accurately the information provided by experts who study insect infestation of corpses.
Physical evidence -- including Danielle's blood on Westerfield's jacket and fingerprints, hair and fibers found in the defendant's motor home -- point to Westerfield's guilt, prosecutors said.
Feldman said the prosecution presented no evidence that Westerfield had ever been in Danielle's home. He noted that her parents testified to holding sex parties in the home, and said one of their house guests might have committed the crime.
Feldman also suggested that Westerfield could not have maneuvered his way through the darkened van Dam home the night of Feb. 1 without anyone hearing him seizing the 58-pound child.
How do we know that Andy isn't the one that divorced his airhead, slut of a wife?
What if Andy was so disgusted by the fact that he slept w/Brenda and who knows who else and didn't want to have anything to do with the "gang" anymore?
Andy can't be found cuz he is in a mental ward for untreated VD??
The timing is good...1/31 the divorce is final, 2/1 Danielle is missing, 2/2 Andy drives Denise to the neighborhood...revenge and the hopes of reconciliation w/Denise??
What else do we know about Andy?...he was in the house Halloween of 2000..knows the layout of the house....may know the alarm is not activated w/a company...knows the dog?...was Andy with Brenda or Damon??
someone or something had Danielle's foot.
And why did Denise have a taped interview with a pyschic?? (still curious about that one)
No. I don't. I think Brenda is involved in covering up, and Brenda is the main reason for the police going after DW, in order to keep attention away from the truth of what happened.
I think Danielle ran away from home. I think Damon was off playing paintball with another girlfriend. I think Brenda was out buying drugs (I mean pizza).
I think Brenda went out with Denise/Barb and got them to lie about Danielle being home.
I think the neighbor either was confused about the day or that Brenda came over selling GS cookies without Danielle.
I think the parents are covering up for not being responsible and knowing their daughter had 'run off' many times before.
Brenda 'admitted' she left the 3 children home alone to go get the drugs (I mean pizza).
Damon said he was home, but then why would Brenda admit she left the kids 'alone'??????
Sometimes the perps like to watch "the action"...just like an arsonist.
His prints, semen, dna, etc. are already in the house...as a friend AND he wasn't there the night before.
You are correct. ANDY drove DENISE back to the VD's the next day to be interviewed by POLICE.
Must be owned by the unknow comic, otherwise should be a name on it, don't you think?
What nationality is Andy, maybe he is middle eastern (read: swarthy). Maybe the spy question came up because they had doubts about ANDY.
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