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.

[calawah98]

The way the media is focusing on DAWs' guilt, I am afraid things are not going to be good for him. It is all over every news channel, and I doubt very much if the jurors are going to miss all of it.

Man it just keeps getting more messey, I sure would like to know number 10s' name. Weird they did'nt tell it huh?

[alexandria]

The identity of the tenth American was not immediately available.

I'm not sure about this but I heard about an investigation going on from Sweeden about 3 wks before this story broke with any names listed. In the article I read there were investigations taking place of many US citizens involved including pre-school workers, accountants, and a police officer who killed himself when he found out he was being investigated. He could have very well been the 10th member.

[mommya]

Here's a link to a story that says the 10th guy who killed himself was Sean Bradley from Reno, Nevada.http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020810/ap_on_re_us/child_pornography_13

[truth_seeker]

My prediction for the outcome, by this jury:

Not Guilty, 10 percent
Guilty, 30 percent
Hung Jury, 60 percent

Anyone care to make their own predictions? I'm not asking you what you think the outcome SHOULD be, but what it WILL be. (At this stage, the evidence, rumors and speculations have been hashed and re-hashed ad infinitum).

[Lucky]

I guess, he was really the 11th guy?

[sawsalimb]

My best guess is a hung jury. From what I can see,there's enough reasonable doubt to vote for an acquittal,but that's my perspective,and I'm not on the jury. I think that a potentially very important factor that's not been brought up very much in these threads is that the San Diego Police Department(or elements of the SDPD)seems to have a less than great reputation,and that will very likely affect,or color some perceptions of some of the jurors. I know that the subject has been brought up here on FR,but what I'm in no position to do is to make any sort of prediction on how that will or won't affect the jurors' debating.

[mommya]

I'm afraid I agree with you. I see a hung jury or possibly a guilty verdict - I just have a feeling.

[Jaded]

{{{Ping}}}

Please forgive if I missed you, my real ping list is at work.

[demsux]

Thanks for the thread, dread...

I was about to win the 666 "isn't it eerie" award last night, but southflank got worried and locked the thread. /so

[demsux]

thanks for the ping, jaded...I couldn't find this thread until your pingage

[Jaded]

Well, if you're REALLY REALLY NICE today maybe we can get up to another one. Talk to yourself if you have to I suppose. But in the mean time... here's some html shriek to keep you entertained...

Stealth Ninja Dave

**FREE NINJA DAVE**FREE NINJA DAVE**FREE NINJA DAVE**

[Jaded]

Prayer ping- they can always use prayer...

---

The Prayer

---

Lord, grant these twelve jurors great wisdom to understand all the testimony they have heard over the past two months, and the clarity of mind to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Give them strength to endure, and fill them with a sense of honor and integrity, and the desire to do what is right.

May You shine the light of truth into the darkness of their confusion, that the jurors will discern honesty from those who bear false witness against their neighbor.

Although You say "Justice is Mine," may You see fit to allow justice for Danielle here on this earth, that her death may not lead to the death of other innocents.

We pray that truth will prevail, and that the sword of justice will weigh heavily on those who would use it falsely to bring glory to themselves.

May Your will be done, in Jesus name.

Amen.

[demsux]

I'm wondering if someone isn't getting these threads yanked, whenever we get to close to the "truth"...

Let's see: Greg Weston, are there any anagrams, or whatever the hell they call them, which would fit any of the pizza players...

Richard (GREG) Brady...

Barb East(WEST)on...

Oh well, time to take off the tin foil hat

[hoosiermama]

Thanks Jaded I've been back a day posting and looking for the rest of you!
Where did Fresno Da get the information posted last night about the VanDams?

[demsux]

You didn't happen to add SilentWitness to your ping list, did you? I'm not sure of the spelling?

He/she was going to "do a drive by" of Libby's house and report back to us.

I couldn't find this thread (I'm digitally amish), so I don't know if he/she could.

[mommya]

What info do you mean?

[mommya]

Let's do ping silent witness for sure.

[Jaded]

Added to ping list.

[hoosiermama]

The gentleman who offered his services. Suggested moving the children out of the home, saw the journal; testimony wasn't taken. It was posted yesterday by FresnoDA. My allergies were acting up. letters were small and I had trouble reading it. Am better today but can't remember the link or where it was?

[Jaded]

Y'all all need to meander over to Stealth Ninja Dave and vote in the NEW polls. I've been jackaled from KFMB and TheNedForum. Yipes!!!!