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.

[Spunky]

Have you heard other uncomfirmed reports or are you just going by what I thought I heard?

[nycgal]

Where did you hear that?

[cyncooper]

Spunks, I thought I heard the routine entering of exhibits into evidence. No news sources saying what you thought--but they could be slow on the uptake if I misheard and you are correct.

[Mrs.O'Strategery]

Even the SD TV personalities seem to be switching sides from what I heard today.

Even Tiny Puddle (Little River) on Rick Roberts said that when Feldman brought it out that Goff made math errors-- that seemed to really hit it big with the jury. I almost fell on the floor. All I have ever heard from Puddle is, "The jury was rolling their eyes at Feldman's cross."

[FresnoDA]

More questions and discussions about Dr. Goof's (Gof's) FUZZY MATH.....

Van Dam Case Witness Challenges Findings Of Defense 'Bug Expert': But...His Testimony Don't Add Up..

[spectre]

A Public beheading? Yes, William Wallace suffered less...at least his death was quick.

We should know by 5pm PST, the name of the Spanish speaking witness Feldman might call, if he does .

sw

[John Jamieson]

Dusek should hang in there. At the rate these bugsperts are closing in on the weekend of 2/2, it should only take two more to get there.

[mommya]

Ping me if you hear it - will you?

[FresnoDA]

You are the source....checking though...

[John Jamieson]

He was drawn and quartered.

Goof was sliced and diced.

[spectre]

Feldman's most memorable quote of the day...

"WHOOPS!

grins, sw

[the Deejay]

I think Tiny Puddle flat out lied about being in the ladie's room with Ms Lepage the other week. One has to remember who TP works for & even if telling a big lie to get called as a witness, I do think RR would encourage one of the station's employees to do just that. Personally, I don't think any such conversation ever occured between TP & Ms LePage. TP was just too squirrelly on the stand.

I also believe it was someone from RR show that took the photo of Neal Westerfield last week. (Which made the judge very angry.)

RR is sleaze & Rag Radio.

[spectre]

I'm trying to listen via Rick Roberts...feed is breaking up. Not sure how much longer I can tolerate his show. I'm sure we'll know before the day is done, who Feldman is going to call. Dusek is foaming at the mouth in anticipation.

I'll ping you..sw

[VRWC_minion]

At this point the average non-technical person will evaluate the hard evidence, throw up their hands as to the bugs and say he is guilty.

Best case scenario is a hung jury.

[L,TOWM]

So I guess you still want to lynch him by the gonads in Qualcomm Stadium before the next Padre Home Game?

Hmmmm, might be good for attendence at that...

[alexandria]

How many animules from the other side started to have REASONABLE DOUBT SWIRLING IN THEIR HEAD?

Very nice basscleff! A veritable "From The Hip" moment! Wasn't it Judd Nelson that played in that?

[Mrs.O'Strategery]

I don't listen often to RR. Only when I have too (Like today because RealPlayer was going all wonky.) RR definetly seems like the male version of Nancy Grace.