Prosecutor: Westerfield Guilty 'Beyond Possible Doubt'(Many Still Find Van Dam's Culpable)

Court TV ^ | August 7, 2002 | Harriet Ryan

[Pushi]

I'm tough as a juror and voted for the death penalty once, but I would be hard pressed to vote guilty in this case. I think it is a lot more likely that this guy was framed than OJ was framed, for example. The police had to arrest someone--tremendous pressure was on. With all the comings and goings of weird people in that house, it could have been anybody. And, I think it is more than a coincidence that the mother and Westerfield danced at a club that night. Smells awfully fishy to me. I feel deep down that the parents were involved.

[JudyB1938]

I feel so stupid sometimes. I thought s/he was yawning because s/he was SLEEPY. LOL

I really appreciate having this thread to come to when I got home. Thanks, everybody!

BTW, I've got the nicotine patch on myself right now. Been about 4 days now. Looks like it might be going to work. I sure hope so. I've been smoking 46 years now. Way too long!

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I'll keep you in my prayers. You WILL do it.

I did it for 12 years and then started again. Duh !!!!!!

I find it's helpful now, if I'm tempted, to think of what our youngest daughter and son-in-law (parents of our youngest granddaughter) said when I told them I was quitting.

They told me my granddaughter thanked me. She wants me to be around for her to grow up. That's hard to argue with.

God willing, I will be.

[Jaded]

I just answered you on another thread!! LOL.

[Alamo-Girl]

I’ve only been watching these threads loosely so my opinion is based on general impressions, but I wanted to post them anyway as a “view from the gallery.” My “two cents:”

Things that point to a guilty verdict:

Blood
Fingerprint
DNA
Hair
Fibers
Child Pornography
Orange fibers in DW’s wash room with no identified source
Use of bleach to clean a MH
Untimely trip to the dry cleaner
Untimely solo 500 mile trip in a MH
Absence of bug infestation in Danielle’s head

Things that point to a not guilty verdict:

Bug infestation, late date
Opportunity to kidnap, house was full
Lack of evidence in the VD home
Parents’ lifestyle

IMHO, a not guilty verdict in this case would be like the one with O.J. Simpson – where a civil trial for wrongful death would probably prevail on preponderance of evidence. So either way, Westerfield’s life is trashed.

In both this case and the OJ case, I’ve wondered if there was an accomplice – someone perhaps that the accused felt obligated to protect.

With Danielle, I wonder if she wandered out of the house unnoticed rather than being taken from her bed.

God knows the truth and I pray that His will be done in this verdict. And for everyone involved, I pray for peace.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I feel deep down that the parents were involved.

So do I. I wonder if some or all of the jurors feel the same. I understand that some didn't take kindly to the van Dam behavior in the courtroom.

Jeff Dusek maybe be able to slough off the lifestyle, strangers in the home, Barbara Easton, etc., but can/will jurors?

[JudyB1938]

Thank you for those prayers. Means a lot.

[The Other Harry]

I feel deep down that the parents were involved.

That lurks around in the back of my mind. Given the circumstances, that seems to me as possible as the notion that Westerfield kidnapped and killed her. I can imagine them introducing her to some pervert friend of theirs, and things getting beyond that.

That's very speculative, I know. But it seems no less speculative that DW.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

You're most welcome. : )

[fatima]

So do you after reading your logs,hummmm

[crystalk]

This is a resounding NOT GUILTY, which under American law means "case not proven."

DW cannot have entered the VD home and taken Danielle. In fact, NO ONE could have taken her unless he or she was already in the home with the VDs consent, and even that is stretching it. What I really am saying is that, either Danielle was outside and in public, and taken by a perp whether stranger or DW--- or it is an inside job by her parents, to cover up an accidental death or worse.

DW cannot have placed the body at Dehesa, and Danielle was either alive until the 12th/14th era and then the body placed on Dehesa on Feb 15/16 night.... or if she was killed earlier the body was refrigerated (possibly accounting for its partial drying or "mummification")-- until Feb 15/16 night, once again.

We need among other things to focus on just when anyone outside her family last saw Danielle alive, and where. Was she already taken by 3 or 4 pm Friday, or did she vanish only between 7 and 9 on Saturday morning, perhaps after going out early to play since everybody else was sleeping in after a long night of drinking and sex.

[JudyB1938]

A civil trial wouldn't do any good. From what I understand, everything he owns had to be signed over to the attorney - including his patents!

I agree with you in the possibility that she could have wandered outside and been snatched. The deposit of her body is too much like Samantha's. And the backpack found by the park has never been explained.

However, I've felt from the beginning that Damon had something to do with it. Especially hearing him say to Brenda during an interview something to the effect of "be careful with the timeline".

One thing I do know for sure, I am praying to all get out for God's hand in this! That man may be guilty. If he is, let the jury convict. But I feel he is NOT guilty. If he isn't, let the jury acquit.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Keep trying, fatima. Sooner or later you might say something that relates.

[fatima]

You are the best.:))))

[GVnana]

"That's the scariest part — he was a normal guy down the street,"

Yeah. And the Van Dams were Ozzie and Harriet. Some neighborhood. Astonishes me how two adult parents managed to become completely void of the normal desire to safeguard their own child's environment and future, including the use of judgment and discernment in selecting one's own associates. It's a jungle out there...

[fatima]

Bump for prayers,fatima

[Alamo-Girl]

I also am praying earnestly for God's will to be done and I trust that it will be!

[kayti]

I do hope the City and taxpayers of San Diego understand Dusuck's premise. That DW committed this crime because he had viewed the child porn videos. Therefore, over the next several months, all jurors, trial watchers, LE officers, prosecution staff, defense attorneys will be subject to serious consideration/investigation should another child go missing in the San Diego area. After all, just watching those videos will lead you to murder. They have now all seen them, they too are suspect.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so very much (blush!) Hugs!!!

[CyberAnt]

I see the defense is going for the "Westerfield left no trace of his being in the Van Dame house" routine. The child was known for sneaking out of the house, and I think the prosecutor's explanation that she was outside the house when Westerfield saw her, so he had no reason to go into the house. This is very plausible to me.