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.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

"SHE WAS DOWN THERE MAYBE TWO TIMES WITHOUT 14 ME, BUT I WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WATCHING."

Yeah, ooooooo-k. I'll believe that...from a woman that leaves her kid alone in a department store dressing room to go hunt for her other two kids.

[mommya]

So Goff says it is Haskell and another guy who wrote the reference info. that does exist on maggot mass temp. stuff - but Goff doesn't believe it is correct?

[FresnoDA]

Anus, Genital Openings....hey...it is lunch time out here Van Damnit....BACK TO THE BODY FARM....

[shezza]

Cross
In decomposition studies, they use 50-pound pigs. Flies look for someplace moist. Problems with penetration dry, hard tissue. Don't always enter mouth/eyes/ears if there is another more attractive opening.

Extreme heat and dry can dessicate eggs very easily.

[It's me]

was that Feldman's cross?

[Freedom2specul8]

I'm talking about the issue surrounding ucansee2's comments about bvd lying about watching danielle from the driveway/yard ...

I do remember the defense tried to show she was lying about dancing with DW, but an interesting point to note is when cherokee said that most of the men looked like DW, older, gray hair..etc., so that raises doubt on her mom's comments.

[shezza]

Covering over body would prevent flies from laying eggs/significant delay. Difference in covering would affect time: loose weave draped over body, they'd crawl under it. Tightly wrapped, sealed, several days before flies could penetrate it.

[alexandria]

Yeah, common sense says if you have any reason to need to watch from driveway you ought to BE THERE.
SHE WAS DOWN THERE MAYBE TWO TIMES WITHOUT 14 ME.
With is with, and without is without, you cannot tell me that BVD would go to the phone check the dog etc. and leave her "driveway post"

[bolthead]

I sense a lot of professional competition (jealousy?) between Goff and Haskell. Bet Haskell would be willing to pay his own way back from Indiana to refute Goff.

[VRWC_minion]

was that Feldman's cross?

NO, he was establishing Goff's lack of expertise on mummy issue.

[shezza]

I thought Feldman was asking questions, but it sounds like Dusek. Haven't seen video, only heard audio. So I guess it's still DIRECT.

[FresnoDA]

Thanks shezza...I don't even think Jarred would eay my Subway Sandwich now....(tossing sound!!!)

[shezza]

Okay, I REALLY need to go now. Can anybody do the play-by-play? THANKS!!

[VRWC_minion]

Bet Haskell would be willing to pay his own way back from Indiana to refute Goff.,

Assuming they are working together to create jobs for each other.

[VRWC_minion]

Try some rice instead.

[Freedom2specul8]

I'll try for a little while..

[Freedom2specul8]

Can he tell us when this little girl was killed, no he cannot. He's just analyzing the insects. His science only deals with insect activity not PMI. Based upon insects and his knowledge of the field, can he say she was not dead...between feb1 thru 12. No, he would suggest a forensic anthropologist or a pathologist.