Mudd Letters Opened To Public: Van Dam Jurors Continue to Mull and Ponder Westerfield's Fate! 8-15

Union Trib ^ | August 15, 2002 | Union Trib

[FresnoDA]

Letters to judge opened to public

SIGNONSANDIEGO

August 14, 2002

The judge in the trial of David Westerfield today allowed reporters to see court log entries of notes from jurors, as well as letters to the judge from the public about the murder of Danielle van Dam.

The letters from the public included a variety of theories about the case.

Jurors ask to review pictures, interview

One letter-writer sent the following theory to Judge William Mudd: "Danielle van Dam killed herself.''

A nearly illegible postcard with a Spokane postmark alluded to at least one ex-wife "with a drinking problem (who) lives in Spokane.''

 

DAN TREVAN / Union-Tribune

Some of the folders of documents made public by Judge William Mudd.

The writer failed to indicate whether the reference was to ex-wives of Westerfield – who has been married and divorced twice – or someone else connected with the case.

The postcard was unsigned.

Another missive came from a man who referenced another high-profile murder trial – that of O.J. Simpson.

"The O.J. Simpson case was a miscarriage of the state's justice mainly because Judge (Lance) Ito was too lenient with the actors defending O.J.,'' the man wrote.

There was no news Wednesday afternoon about the status of deliberations, but Mudd announced he was holding a sealed hearing 9:30 a.m. Thursday to consider an unspecified defense motion in the case.

Wednesday was the fifth day of deliberations. The prosecution concluded its closing arguments last Thursday.

Westerfield is accused of kidnapping 7-year-old Danielle van Dam from her Sabre Springs home and killing her.

He could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted of murder with special circumstances.

He has also been charged with misdemeanor possession of child pornography.

The log entries show that on Friday, the jury requested ``all available evidence of pornographic images'' and a photograph of a teen-age daughter of the defendant's ex-girlfriend.

[Rheo]

Annette Peer..June 20.

Q. THE RESULTS THAT YOU DID OBTAIN FOR THE BLOOD FROM THE JACKET LAPEL, HOWEVER, ARE CONSISTENT WITH HAVING COME FROM MR. WESTERFIELD; IS THAT CORRECT?

A. THAT'S CORRECT.

[JudyB1938]

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to lend another Voice of Reason here. They are needed on both sides of this issue. That's the only way the truth can come out.

[the Deejay]

Oh yes, I've followed local trials very closely. Much more than this one and recorded them as well. I have a good sized library. Never seen any transcripts posted online, but the tapes are just as good, if not better. I can back them up time after time & replay. Which I've done many times.

Local trials haven't involved hair or fiber evidence however. Nor DNA. But a whole lot of direct evidence.

[cyncooper]

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to lend another Voice of Reason here. They are needed on both sides of this issue. That's the only way the truth can come out.

Thanks, Judy. I'm outa here for awhile again, but had time this morning to review some articles and today's comments.

[small_l_libertarian]

The Redden tape has been redacted and edited. Do we know WHEN it was redacted and edited? This is going to sound all tinfoil hat, but if the police/prosecutor knew that they had "stretched the truth" about what DW actually said, and that Mudd had covered their butts by sealing the affidavit, they would want to make sure that the interview tape matched their story, not DW's. But now the affidavits are unsealed (I want to see them, too) - so maybe he did tell Redden, and we just don't know it (yet).

[the Deejay]

I've seen photos of BVD on the day of the abduction and she didn't look much better than she has in court.

[nycgal]

Q. THE RESULTS THAT YOU DID OBTAIN FOR THE BLOOD FROM THE JACKET LAPEL, HOWEVER, ARE CONSISTENT WITH HAVING COME FROM MR. WESTERFIELD; IS THAT CORRECT?

A. THAT'S CORRECT.

Shaving accident?

[Rheo]

Could be...there were many DNA markers missing from the sample..wonder if it was really old also?

[Rheo]

Here is more:

Q DID YOU ALSO TEST I BELIEVE THE LABEL NUMBER WAS 48A, THE BEDSPREAD FROM THE MOTOR HOME THAT YOU HAD EARLIER DESCRIBED OBTAINING A POSITIVE PRESUMPTIVE BLOODSTAIN RESULT?

A YES, I DID.

Q WITH WHAT RESULT?

A THE D.N.A. TYPES THAT WERE RECOVERED WERE CONSISTENT WITH HAVING ORIGINATED FROM DAVID WESTERFIELD.

Q WHAT ABOUT ITEM 94D-3, THE JACKET STAIN FROM THE NECK AREA? I MAY HAVE ASKED YOU THIS, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST DESCRIBE IT.

A COULD YOU REPEAT THE ITEM NUMBER ON THAT?

Q SURE. 94D-3.

A NO D.N.A. TYPES WERE RECOVERED FROM THAT ITEM

[the Deejay]

"Who is that woman in the montage (the one wearing the matching shirt as Danielle)? "


No, I have no idea & didn't focus on her too much.

[demsux]

I'm guessing that it's Barb Easton.

[cyncooper]

My understanding is the redaction was done during hearings involving the prosecution, defense, and the judge.

Now I really am gone...

[the Deejay]

Easton is a big woman. Very tall & lots of big hair.

[alisasny]

We don't know what she looked like even a day before Danielle was gone.

Stoned and excited for the activities to come the following night , Girls night out!

[small_l_libertarian]

Thank you.

[UCANSEE2]

In one affidavit, San Diego police Detective Terry Torgersen said Westerfield told detectives he submitted items for cleaning at Twin Peaks Cleaners the morning of Feb. 4.

CYNCOOPER: I say the affidavit and search warrant were not drawn up until 2/7 (I believe), NOT 2/4 or even 2/5. The detective first had to track down the drycleaners. The article about the affidavit states that DW told the police about the trip he made on 2/4. The article does not state DW disclosed the trip to them *on* 2/4. JADED, CYNCOOPER. HERE is a link to all the WARRANT NUMBERS:

CFAC

AND HERE IS THE LINK to some recent affidavits

WESTERFIELD DOCUMENTS

AND HERE is the SEARCH WARRANT FOR THE DRY CLEANERS. AND it is dated FEB 7th. (CYN!)

DRY CLEANERS SEARCH WARRANT

[Rheo]

These aren't the recently unsealed affidavits tho...these have been there..IIRC

[NatureGirl]

Yes. I'd like to read the affidavit as well. It seems as if you're saying that what Torgersen said in the affidavit is just "confirmation" of what Det. Ott had already figured out from the receipt, ie, "Is Twin Peaks the dry cleaners you used?" DW - "Yes."

So, based on that, Torgersen can now state "DW told us he dropped things off at Twin Peaks dry cleaners on 2/4". Of course, that's pretty innocuous - and makes me wonder why the affidavit had to be sealed.

[JudyB1938]

Thanks for the correction. Maybe I just THOUGHT I'd lost my last illusions.

My exposure has been limited to crime & forensics shows on TV, so I guess you can figure out why I got so upset with this trial.

[Karson]

Who is that woman in the montage (the one wearing the matching shirt as Danielle)?

I think it is Brenda with long hair (and dark roots). Maybe taken during Disney World trip? Brenda did testify they got haircuts (plural) on Jan. 26th. Apparently Brenda got a haircut and dye job.