Judge Mudd Says Sequestering Of Jury Possible: Van Dam case has jurors facing more Mad-Dawgging!!

Union Trib ^ | July 30, 3002 | Alex Roth

[FresnoDA]

Judge says sequestering of jury possible

By Alex Roth
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

July 30, 2002

The judge in the David Westerfield trial rejected another defense request to sequester the jury but said he still considers it "a possible option."

Superior Court Judge William Mudd said he didn't think it was necessary at the moment but has asked the county to prepare "a back-up contingency plan" just in case.

Westerfield's lawyers have asked several times for jury sequestration, and they renewed their request yesterday. Lead defense lawyer Steven Feldman said he worried that the jury might be affected by the publicity in the Samantha Runnion kidnap-murder case in Orange County.

Feldman cited comments made by Samantha's mother about Alejandro Avila, the man charged with kidnapping and killing the 5-year-old girl. In an interview on CNN's "Larry King Live," Erin Runnion blamed her daughter's death on a jury that acquitted Avila of child molestation charges two years ago.

Feldman said he worried that jurors in the Westerfield case might hear about the interview and feel pressured to convict his client, who is charged with kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam of Sabre Springs.

The judge said he would remind jurors about news coverage they should avoid. He also said he talked to them about sequestration last week after receiving reports that someone in the media followed some of the jurors to their cars and wrote down their license plates.

"They're a hearty group and they didn't appear to be intimidated by what occurred, and I continue to believe in their integrity," the judge said yesterday.

With the trial in recess for a day, lawyers spent yesterday discussing legal instructions to give to the jury before they begin deliberations. It seems likely that testimony will continue into next week.

Prosecutors are expected to finish their rebuttal evidence today, at which point the defense will put on evidence to rebut the prosecution's rebuttal. One possible defense witness probably won't be called until Monday, Feldman told the judge yesterday.

[John Jamieson]

This dip has now said that atleast twice. It must have been a very large fiber!

[kayti]

Wow! Looks to me like some PC censorship going on around here.

[VRWC_minion]

I wonder who convinced him to use this orange fiber defense?,

More important, why think the pros wouldn't go out and test these ?

Unless on cross he can make this woman sound like she wasn't sure about a match.

[shezza]

Did microscopic and infrared tests. Dog vest was nylon. Orange shirts poly/cotton blend. Orange rope was polyester. Orange strap was nylon. Backpack (red portion) nylon. Frazee's lovely orange hat= polyester. Other shirts were either cotton or poly/cotton blend.

[shezza]

Orange vest (Laura Recovery Center) was .... (can't remember, looking at notes)...um...it was polyester.

[John Jamieson]

MAGNUMFIBER = a 27 pound single orange fiber that covered Danielle's body. Listed in GBR as the largest single fiber ever produced.

[shezza]

Witness excused.

[VRWC_minion]

Another point for the jury to ponder is that the type of fibers found on all of these various random sources don't match the kind found to Westerfield's RV, SUV and home. This will indicate its not so easy to get a match by accident.

[shezza]

Sgt. Holmes on the stand.

[sunshine state]

I'll have to send the definition later tonight. Unfortunately, I must go back to work where I can lurk but not post.

[cyncooper]

Wow! Looks to me like some PC censorship going on around here.

Huh? UCANSEE2 put the phrases together as an inside joke kind of thing. I've never read it, but that's my take----not censorship.

[pinz-n-needlez]

somebody's been listening to Nancy Grace! LOL

[shezza]

Has motorhome similar to DW's Southwind.

[VRWC_minion]

Different classes of RV, they are both class A. (me=means you need special license to drive)

ARe you familiar with route to Glamis ? =yes

[Freedom2specul8]

Exactly! Unless they can turn this around, they just hurt themselves.. Most of the time, atty's know the answer prior to the question. This looks more like grasping at straws.

[shezza]

Takes his MH out 5-6 times a year. Has driven route to Glamis in his MH.

[shezza]

Usually goes through on his way to Lake Havasu or Colorado destinations.

[FresnoDA]

VAN DAMNED MOTORHOME ENVY

[Freedom2specul8]

See definition for "dejackaled"... it was a wonderul attempt to promote love, and togetherness. :) on a serious note, ucansee2 is for real...and has no hidden agenda.

[shezza]

Has actually driven the route to Glamis involving Julian area in MH once, has pulled camper on that route several times. Narrow, windy, few services.