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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

Judge says sequestering of jury possible

By Alex Roth
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

July 30, 2002

Judge William D. Mudd chastises the media and threatens to cut off video and still-photo coverage David Westerfield's murder trial Thursday, July 25, 2002, in San Diego. Mudd said the problem was due to a security breech when an unnamed person followed some jurors to their vehicles and wrote down license numbers. Westerfield is accused of the kidnapping and murder of seven-year old Danielle van Dam. (AP Photo/Dan Trevan,POOL)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
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
thesandiegochannel.com
62 posted on 07/30/2002 9:28:28 AM PDT by shezza
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To: shezza
I think your feed is faster than mine. Must be buffering or something.
63 posted on 07/30/2002 9:28:33 AM PDT by VRWC_minion
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To: shezza
CTV anchor says they are discussing the orange fibers that "covered Danielle's body". It was one fiber in her necklace.
64 posted on 07/30/2002 9:28:46 AM PDT by clearvision
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To: VRWC_minion
I heart cable. ;o)
65 posted on 07/30/2002 9:29:48 AM PDT by shezza
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To: VRWC_minion
Asking questions about timing etc re photos' ?

My question= Aren't these photo's time stamped by photographer ?

66 posted on 07/30/2002 9:29:59 AM PDT by VRWC_minion
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To: clearvision
(rolling eyes)
67 posted on 07/30/2002 9:30:07 AM PDT by shezza
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To: shezza
Thnx shezza
68 posted on 07/30/2002 9:30:12 AM PDT by Freedom2specul8
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To: shezza
Her testimony is completed.
69 posted on 07/30/2002 9:30:43 AM PDT by shezza
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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
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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
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To: shezza
I swear, they must have been watching us talk on this thread.... (orange vest pics for example)
72 posted on 07/30/2002 9:34:10 AM PDT by Freedom2specul8
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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?
73 posted on 07/30/2002 9:35:59 AM PDT by ItsOurTimeNow
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To: shezza
180 Frank Alert!

74 posted on 07/30/2002 9:36:01 AM PDT by shezza
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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.
75 posted on 07/30/2002 9:36:04 AM PDT by alexandria
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To: shezza
Someone on the defense team is going to get reamed for this..
76 posted on 07/30/2002 9:36:05 AM PDT by Freedom2specul8
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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

77 posted on 07/30/2002 9:36:12 AM PDT by VRWC_minion
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To: ItsOurTimeNow
"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."
78 posted on 07/30/2002 9:36:33 AM PDT by shezza
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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
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To: shezza
Mr. Hoar is the individual in picture. He got short sleeve orange shirt,back pack and some other clothing.
80 posted on 07/30/2002 9:38:30 AM PDT by VRWC_minion
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