[wimpycat]

Your heavy emotional investment in believing in Westerfield's innocence impeaches every opinion you have on the subject. Your point of view is skewed. That's why you can't understand what most "reasonable people" would do.

And for the record, I don't even watch Court TV, so don't accuse me of my mind being poisoned.

[bvw]

I have no opinion as to Westerfield's innocence. Only as to the presentation of material in this trial which is far from proving anything about a murder -- by anyone. Moreover it does appear that Westerfield is being railroaded rather than tried. That I have an opinion about the railroading is not all a sign I have opinion about innocence or guilt.

[Doc Savage]

I often speculate on why certain FReepers take certain names. Take my name for example, Doc Savage! Strong, determined, a man of character! Take your name, wimpycat. Wimpy and feline. Eats tuna and hair balls.

Just an independent opinion, but I'd re-register under another aka if I were you. (Glad I'm not you!)

But hey, let's get to the real meat of the trial. Westerfield may indeed be guilty. I don't know the truth and neither do you. But I do know this:

1. The prosecution has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Danielle van Dam was abducted.

2. The prosecution has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Danielle van Dam was murdered. She died alright, but the prosecution has failed to state exactly how she died, if she died as a result of a homicide, manslaughter, or an accidental death.

3. The prosecution has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that DW was ever in the van Dam residence.

4. The prosecution has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that DW was ever on their contingent property at any time. Of course there is always the possibility that DW was delivering the "mail" while Damon was at work, but we don't know that for a fact.

5. The prosecution has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that DW abducted Danielle van Dam.

6. The prosecution has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that DW murdered Danielle van Dam.

7. The prosecution has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that DW dumped the body of Danielle van Dam after having supposedly killed her.

Now you and the executioner Greg Weston can slap each other on the back until you're silly but you can't rebut anything I just said. If you want to convict him on circumstanstial evidence, be my guest. But the burden on the prosecution was to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and they failed to do so.

Any verdict of guilty, in my opinion, will be the result of a generalized hysteria sweeping this country involving child abductions and child pornography. That is not to say that we as parents shouldn't be concerned about the welfare of our progeny, but when someone's life is on the line, we should exercise our best judgment and and make every effort to force the prosecution to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

[Jaded]

You just don't get it do you? Read the transcripts.

[Politicalmom]

I am a reasonable person, and I would do EXACTLY what my attorney told me to. That is the reason for hiring an expert.