Jury begins deliberations -Prosecutor says victim has pointed to her killer (keep it civil)

UNION-TRIBUNE signonsandiego.com ^ | August 9, 2002 | Alex Roth

[dread78645]

Jurors in the David Westerfield trial began deliberating yesterday after hearing a final statement from the lead prosecutor, who beamed a photo of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam onto the wall and urged the jury to focus on the physical evidence.

Finishing closing arguments in the two-month murder trial, prosecutor Jeff Dusek called a blood spot on Westerfield's jacket the "smoking gun." And Dusek imagined what Danielle might tell the jury if someone could bring her back to life "just for a moment" so she could answer the question, "Please tell us who did this to you."

"I've already told you," Dusek said the girl would tell the jury. "I've told you with my hair and where you found it. I've told you with the orange fiber that you found on my choker, and where you found it.

[John Jamieson]

Doesn't it seem odd, that everywhere DW had time to clean pretty well, the motorhome and his home, LE found evidence of Danielle, but everywhere that DW had no time to clean, VD house, and Dehesa, there is no evidence of DW.

May require reading twice.

[the Deejay]

Hate to sound redundant but, Damon has been my suspect since I got into this during the prelim. So far, nothing nor nobody has proved me wrong.

[small_l_libertarian]

I went and looked at the theory, but it doesn't work because the motorhome was not nearby - it was stored 30 miles away. It might work if Damon knew where the motorhome was stored, but that's reaching. The theory is interesting, though.

[John Jamieson]

Prolly take a Qualcom expert to do it. Nah.

[mafree]

That's the part I have the most trouble with. Duesk never proved Kidnapping and went as far as saying he didn't have to prove how he (DW) did it. If you were on a jury, wouldn't you want them to tell you how the crime was commited?

The exact reason why I doubt Westerfield killed Danielle. I sure hope they find who did.

[the Deejay]

Got it on the first read.

Yes, that sounds right to me, and quite accurate.

[small_l_libertarian]

Gotta leave for about a half hour. Not ignoring any replies. Will respond when I get back.

[rolling_stone]

I knew something was bothering me and you spelled it out...what a coincidence! Now all we have to do is see who went where when.

[John Jamieson]

They would have had to plabt the disks too, that's where most of the unfigerprinted stuff is. Found by MR. YOUNGFLESH.

[the Deejay]

"What was funny were his facial expressions, as though he was actually looking at something besides darkness."

I know, that's what made it so blasted funny for me! He had that stupid look, 'goll-eee'. (Phony ratbag.)

[John Jamieson]

well the N is right next to the B. LOL

[Jaded]

Very, very good Detective JJ. Hadn't thought of it in those terms.

[John Jamieson]

"My wife WILL kill me soon...."

From a not to be missed Damon email, see post 42.

[the Deejay]

It's just much too odd that the only little girl in that neighborhood that gets murdered, is the daughter of the swinger/dopes/heavy drinkers/parents with questionable friends.

No other reports in that neighborhood of any similar incidents. Not even close calls. And kids played all over the local park & street all the time.

Is that just my imagination running wild, coincidence, or pure fact?

[mouser]

on the .22 case
i have two thoughts

1) it could be a very important piece of the puzzle.
if she was shot in the belly in soft tissue and out soft
tissue this could cause enougth trama to cause death
injury to liver, intestines and so on and the animals
ate the evidence

2) it is a non issue my oldest daughter learned at about
5 years of age to make a whistle with a .22 shell and
gave them to about all of her little friends

scarry how easy you could get in trouble

[Jaded]

Heck if she had we wouldn't be here today. /so

[the Deejay]

dopes = dopers

(Well, they are "dopes", too) hehehehe

[John Jamieson]

Pure fact, except you left out the well known child porno producer and sometime star living nearby.....his name is Brooke L. Rowland and I'll bet he goes to Dad's on Friday nights. Mr Rowland was arrested on 2/15 just after Danielle's body was dropped off.

[the Deejay]

"Pure fact, except you left out the well known child porno producer and sometime star living nearby.....his name is Brooke L. Rowland and I'll bet he goes to Dad's on Friday nights. Mr Rowland was arrested on 2/15 just after Danielle's body was dropped off."

Sorry 'bout that. It's been a long day, it's getting late for me (even tho it's just after 8:00.)

I hope at least "one" juror thinks about the "is it just coincidence....?"

[John Jamieson]

I doubt the jurors ever heard a word about Mr. Rowland, and operation Hamlet.