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.

[Karson]

Sounds like more child endangerment on the part of the VDs if this is the same Keith Stone. They invited him to their home more than once when their children was home. They had known him long enough and well enough to know if he had a criminal record. IMO

[John Jamieson]

Character witnesses probably need a special jury instruction, but it looks like we aren't going to have any.

[Karson]

It didn't work for me the first time I tried it. Then I right clicked on the link and chose open link in another window. Opened right up that time.

[John Jamieson]

Tell us what you found, I can't anything on the link.

[hoosiermama]

THIS MIGHT HELP CLEAR IT UP.


At his deposition, Mr. Keller stated that he knows David Brock socially because they have been members of the same bridge club for 35 years and because certain of their children attended school together. He does not know anything about Chief Justice Brock in his capacity as a judge. In Mr. Keller's personal opinion, David Brock is a man of integrity and credibility. In addition, David Brock's reputation in the bridge club is as a man of integrity and credibility.

Mr. Keller's proposed testimony is pure character evidence and, accordingly, is inadmissible under New Hampshire law. As explained in the House's accompanying Motion In Limine to Preclude Six Witnesses from Testifying, the New Hampshire Rules of Evidence generally allow character testimony in non-criminal cases only pursuant to Rule 608. That rule provides in relevant part that evidence of a witness's character for truthfulness may be admitted "only after the character of the witness for truthfulness has been attacked". (Emphasis added)

[dread78645]

What if its a cop??? Feldman kept calling one of them back.

Wild speculation here ...
What if it's one of the computer eggspurts ?

Law enforcement hires crackers after they've served the time.

[alexandria]

Sorry use guest as operator code but no password. Then try Keith stones name in master search choice. Click # of offence then you can ask for case or minutes.

259123 C0423051 CA STONE, KEITH DAMON 04/04/1959 A-Riverside Municipal Criminal
HEF004235 N2353433 CA STONE, KEITH DAMON 07/06/1955 C-Riverside Superior Criminal
CR30811 STONE, KEITH DAMON 12/25/1952 C-Riverside Superior Criminal

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I was able to see it by copying and pasting the URL rather than using it as a link.

[mommya]

It's just a little more weird factor if Keith's middle name is indeed Damon.

[alexandria]

http://158.61.133.2/default.asp

that is main link. use guest as operator no password. If you use the master name search I think it searches all courts. I tried Barbra Easton and came up with a civil case only. Avila's old case file is in here also.

[hoosiermama]

What are the dates 1959, 1955 Maybe his father?

[John Jamieson]

Weird, 3 "Keith DAMON Stone's" with different birthdays in one court???

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Thanks for the new link. It works well.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

G'night all. Thanks for all the theories and information.

[Jrabbit]

Thanks. I see now. Dusek said no and Feldman said leave it til the end-makes sense.

[hoosiermama]

Thought that was the day the case was tried or something? That's why I thought his dad? All in the family ya know!

[hoosiermama]

ME too! Thanks for the pleasant evening. Good night all!

[alexandria]

Your welcome. If Keith Stones b-day is 4-4-1959 he has a prior felony HS possessions charge.

[hoosiermama]

If you know his address you can check his driver's license!
Now Goodnight!

[alexandria]

Jhon who was the guy heading the search team Garcia?