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Judge Mudd Says Sequestering Of Jury Possible: Van Dam case has jurors facing more Mad-Dawgging!!
Union Trib ^
| July 30, 3002
| Alex Roth
Posted on 07/30/2002 7:13:26 AM PDT by FresnoDA
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.
TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: 180frank; danielle; kidnapping; molestation; threadjackals; vandam; westerfield
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To: shezza
Feldman asked if dogs had been there earlier, she didn't know.
61
posted on
07/30/2002 9:28:11 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
thesandiegochannel.com
62
posted on
07/30/2002 9:28:28 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: shezza
I think your feed is faster than mine. Must be buffering or something.
To: shezza
CTV anchor says they are discussing the orange fibers that "covered Danielle's body". It was one fiber in her necklace.
To: VRWC_minion
I heart cable. ;o)
65
posted on
07/30/2002 9:29:48 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: VRWC_minion
Asking questions about timing etc re photos' ?
My question= Aren't these photo's time stamped by photographer ?
To: clearvision
(rolling eyes)
67
posted on
07/30/2002 9:30:07 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: shezza
Thnx shezza
To: shezza
Her testimony is completed.
69
posted on
07/30/2002 9:30:43 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: shezza
Officer Lerribas (?) -- feed skipped out. On July 24 was asked to obtain orange shirts and vests from the unit. Picked up orange search-and-rescue shirt from Lt. Redden, as well as dog's vest.
70
posted on
07/30/2002 9:33:24 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: shezza
Took vest and shirt to Tanya Dulaney at crime lab for further evaluation.
71
posted on
07/30/2002 9:34:05 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: shezza
I swear, they must have been watching us talk on this thread.... (orange vest pics for example)
To: shezza
"Mudd mentioning Orange County case (Samantha Runnion), telling jury that there are really no similarities, but try to not watch if they don't have to."
No similarities? Two young girls found dead, nude, and dumped along the side of a main road...both less than 150 miles from each other...and there's no similarity?
To: shezza
180 Frank Alert!
74
posted on
07/30/2002 9:36:01 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: shezza
I would like to point out that the defense is at least trying to come up with source of fibers where prosecution has not.
To: shezza
Someone on the defense team is going to get reamed for this..
To: VRWC_minion
Let me show you board 182. Do any of those photo's appear similar to Radack (?) =yes.
Does that appear to be LT. Redek =yes.
Ex 181, ph 2d. does that photo have a dog ? Yes. Is it wearing anything=yes... missed ..
Any contact after 9/12. An unid male was not id. in short sleeved shirt
To: ItsOurTimeNow
"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."
78
posted on
07/30/2002 9:36:33 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: shezza
Other individuals in orange shirt were also contacted. Includes Jim Frazee (180 Frank alert!).
79
posted on
07/30/2002 9:37:52 AM PDT
by
shezza
To: shezza
Mr. Hoar is the individual in picture. He got short sleeve orange shirt,back pack and some other clothing.
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