Prosecution's Bug Expert Struggles On Stand:08/01/2002 Westefield Trial Nears Finish Lap!

Court TV ^ | August 1, 2002 | Harriet Ryan

[agrandis]

I'm definitely not an expert in the field, but the science is a solid and useful one. It is just my slightly educated opinion that the prosecution has a problem with the time of placement of the body, due to the entomological data. I haven't been following this sordid case too closely, and I don't know what all the other evidence is for the prosecution, but based on the fly data, and the inconsistency in the story of how DW got the child out of the house, I think I would vote not-guilty if on that jury. But like I said, they all seem to be scum, so I don't care if they're all found guilty.

[UCANSEE2]

Did you see the article in yesterdays paper about the man being freed

YES. It was here in Missouri and he was freed because of a DNA test they did which cleared him, but, of course, was not possible 18 years ago when they convicted him.

Does show that some innocents get convicted regardless.

With today's newer techniques one would think there would be LESS CHANCE of wrong conviction.

Actually, NOT. With newer techniques, evidence can be gathered which appears to show a link, but means nothing. Years ago such evidence was beyond collection/analysis. (such as carpet fibers). So new techniques can still be used to convict an innocent person, believe it or not.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Sorry, you should have said something.

I tried to hint, but I ran into a density problem.

[VRWC_minion]

It looks like Goff may not have been in error in his math. This guy is missing a very basic math concept.

How can a guy in this field who bases his opinions on averages and medians etc not know the difference between median and mean ?

[spectre]

Good point. I am getting a headache listening to Dusek, and wondering if the Jury is going thru the same thing.

We need to wait for Feldman's redirect... This appears to be Duseks final chance to win the case.

sw

[FresnoDA]

Guy just made larger error than math error. He doesn't know the difference between median and mean.

SO MINION, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE...HHMMMM???

---

 me·di·an   Pronunciation Key  (md-n)
adj.

1. Relating to, located in, or extending toward the middle.
2. Anatomy. Of, relating to, or situated in or near the plane that divides a bilaterally symmetrical animal into right and left halves; mesial.
3. Statistics. Relating to or constituting the middle value in a distribution.

---

mean³   Pronunciation Key  (mn)
n.

1. Something having a position, quality, or condition midway between extremes; a medium.
2. Mathematics.
   1. A number that typifies a set of numbers, such as a geometric mean or an arithmetic mean.
   2. The average value of a set of numbers.
3. Logic. The middle term in a syllogism.
4. means (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A method, a course of action, or an instrument by which an act can be accomplished or an end achieved.
5. means (used with a pl. verb)
   1. Money, property, or other wealth: You ought to live within your means.
   2. Great wealth: a woman of means.

[connectthedots]

I think Dusek is killing this defense expert. The jury surely has to see he's being evasive, feigning lack of understanding the question so he doesn't even have to answer the simplest question.

This witness is not being evasive; Dusek is groping for anything he can grab at, and as a result, his questions are not very clear. All of Dusek's questioning now is to distract the jury from the fact that DW could not have deposited the body at a time that is consistent with the evidence from all the bug guys.

[YaYa123]

The prosecutor has the guy rattled. He's using all his braincells to think up evasive answers, none left over for technicalities. If he's not very very careful, the prosecutor is going to catch him in a huge lie...that's what he's gunning for.

[Freedom2specul8]

Lost feed again..

Rats.. the median is a different computation...

note: I'm not sure of context cuz i lost feed

Is the # correct if he gave the median...??

He wrote in his report that goff shows an inattention to details cuz the average is wrong... objection, overruled, witness that is correct.

Did he ask goff or compute it to see if it was a correct median number? No he did not.

Did he criticzed goff for using daily temps at singing ? hills? ?? Not a direct answer... they only temps available were daily min and max temps.. He's not giving a yes or no answer..period. Court reporter has to reread the question.

He criticized him fo rusing max and min temp for something HOURS. Did he do the sam thing yes and he doesn' tknow how faulkner used his numbers. Maybe limburg SP? field.

he believes within the time he had, he tried to spend as much detail as possible..about june 19th..first contact.

He got the temp reports about 2 weeks ago.

He's not seen faulkners notes from ?? either from memory from transcripts or something else.

Sorry dems am getting lost here.

Between testimony transcripts, faulkner/haskell...

[UCANSEE2]

FIRST, I am the HEAD JACKAL, of the DW FAN CLUB, well PRESIDENT, I believe. We(I) had an election and since no one else bothered to vote, I won

[VRWC_minion]

Big difference.

The average and mean are two entirely different numbers.

[YaYa123]

I don't think the judge agrees with you. The judge has nixed all Feldman's objections.

[Jaded]

Unfortunately, the truth will never come out in the debacle. It seems doubtful that anyone has or will have learned a lesson about "lifestyles" or any of this other sordid stuff.

There are two Van Dam boys, they should be the concern now. That doesn't appear to be the case either, that is even more sad, IMO.

[FresnoDA]

And you are a World Com accountant, right?

[VRWC_minion]

He's using all his braincells to think up evasive answers, none left over for technicalities

My 12 year old knows the difference between mean and median. This guy actually didn't know there was a difference. He thought they were the same.

[UCANSEE2]

Do you belive Dusak is going into anus as access because it is tighter? That is incorrect, after death the mucules of the anus relax and therefore would be an opening for flies. Glad I am not getting the live feed right now. I read this post and thought I was on a CONDIT thread or a PORN thread.

Man, (...shaking head...) going to have to ask the day nurse for another cocktail of valium,prosac, and sominex!

[mommya]

Thanks for your input - very valuable here. So - is it your opinion - that both sides could deal with the mintutia of this entomological stuff and slant it a bit one way or the other - go back and forth forever - but basically - it's obvious - she was not there back in early feb. but placed there in mid feb.?

[RnMomof7]

Welcome BTW I BEN Hurt too...great name

[bolthead]

When given only two numbers, a high and a low, what is the difference between the mean and the median?