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.

[mommya]

I'm guessing that it's Brenda's sister in that photo. Damon and Brenda are both from Fla. so I would think it more likely that it was family than someone from Ca. that they took along on vacation. I thought I heard one time that the mickey mouse earrings that Danielle had on came from her aunt - I can't be sure though - but that would make sense if they were at Disneyworld together.

[I. Ben Hurt]

So, atheist that I am, I will join with you in your prayer

John 9;31 Now we know that God heareth NOT sinners: BUT IF any man be a worshipper of God, and does his will, HIM he heareth.

God works in mysterious ways and you have good people here praying for you.

[UCANSEE2]

Funny, isn't it? They unseal affidavits, but won't let THE JURY or THE PUBLIC see them. What's so unsealed about that?

Maybe it's the media that doesn't want them published? MIght ruin their little HANGEM-HIGH game? The one were AD dollars match the bloodlust of the viewing public?

Gotta have a THUMBSDOWN from the ROMAN CITIZENS, gotta see the LIONS DEVOUR a FEW CHRISTIANS! Can't have the crowd go home unsatisfied! WOn't be good for coliseum ticket reciepts next time.

[small_l_libertarian]

I just went and looked at the Flash presentation on the SignOnSanDiego site, and Brenda looks okay to me up until Feb. 26 when DW pleaded not guilty. In court that day, she looks awful, and in every picture after that. In all the photos before 2/26, though, she looks pretty good (IMO).

[the Deejay]

For me, this trial has been a one-off as far as the prosecution's case goes. These particular ones seem to have no integrity whatsoever. Didn't you follow the Binion Trial or The Rudin Trial? Just simply adore the prosecutors in both of those trials. Excellent prosecutors!

[domestice]

Greetings JudyB,

I had thought that somebody must have had the same thoughts about this too! I read on some earlier posts how some pervs were having anonymous sex at some park..the citizens were livid as children frequented there....then all of the sudden the case just went dead..nobody was charged.
Wonder who 'important', or 'connected' was involved....Definitely makes one go..hmmmmmmm

I sense the same thing w/ this case!

[Rheo]

I was thinking the same thing...if the dang things are unsealed, let us see them.

Media has to get a few more days of lies in, I guess.

[the Deejay]

It takes more than a few weeks to look that bad. Many years ago, I had some stress that lasted a while, & I
didn't look any different. Just felt bad. That was the
last time, I allowed anything (no matter what it was!) to stress me out.

[JudyB1938]

No, I didn't follow the trials.

That Rudin was a mean crooked SOB. And poor Jack was a complete goof-off. So neither murder was a surprise.

I WAS hoping that one gal would get off though. I didn't like Ron Rudin one bit.

BTW, the only completely honest mayor (IMO) we've had since I've been in this town for 33 years is also the best mayor we've ever had. His former life? A mob lawyer. ROFL

[small_l_libertarian]

Well, then her supply of pancake makeup must have run out just before 2/26.

:-)

[JudyB1938]

I think people had better wake up to what's gradually coming upon our country. NAMBLA is already out in the open, for pete's sakes. It won't be long until we return to our early history where the Age of Consent was SEVEN YEARS OLD in one state, with most of them being around 12 to 14. I read that on another thread last night.

[the Deejay]

Hey, folks! I guess a lot of us here are BROCCOLI HEADS!
According to an L.A. rag radio station. They're the ones
the judge called, "idiots" and I gotta agree listening to
him talking to Lisa Bloom.

[fellowpatriot]

On a completely unrelated note ... can you guys imagine sitting in a room looking at porn all day with 11 other people? I would not be able to stop laughing (from embarrassment, I mean!). What a weird day for the jurors that must have been!

If Westerfield is found guilty, the SDPD had better keep an eye on the jury, after all, we all know what viewing this stuff can lead to (/sarcasm)

[mommya]

This "John" guy is stupid - makes me want to smack him.

[GoRepGo]

Per transcripts, Brenda day 3:

Q. YOR HAIR COLOR IS WHAT? A. BLONDE. Q. IS IT CHEMICALLY TREATED? A. YES. Q. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN TREATED THAT WAY? A. FOR YEARS.

in the photo montage, the person in the matching mm shirt must be Danielle's Aunt, the resemblance is remarkable.

[RnMomof7]

I was just listening to this jerk John ..Hey San Diego freepers..do we have an email or phone # on this guy?

[the Deejay]

Me thinks the "John" has taken this trial too much to heart or brain. He's very much an "idiot".

Not only that, but "John" doesn't even live in SD, he's from L.A., so it's not even in his community.

[the Deejay]

John the Jerk sounds like he could be potentially dangerous.

[UCANSEE2]

There was a post a while back from a Freeper who has a son I believe who lives near Club CB. Apparently CB's has a lot of members who are very prominent in SD. I've also heard that the head of the county CPS is not at all what someone would hope for in a person in that position.

73 posted on 8/15/02 7:01 AM Pacific by Jaded

[spectre]

Whoa...Who is this guy John Kobylt, KFR Radio, Los Angeles.? He is shouting down Lisa Bloom and screaming that the Juror's have to have the brains of Vegetables because they haven't reached a verdict yet.

He's shouting that anyone who doesn't believe that Westerfield is guilty has to be a MORON! That's why he was handing out Brocolli yesterday outside the court house.

John Kobylt sounded like a guy who could take justice into his own hands and blow someone away..and I'm not kidding. The guy was trippin out.

sw