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.

[UCANSEE2]

Is that the receipt, or just one from the same cleaners??

Gotta be it. Has the items listed that DW left there. This is the black sweater, pants etc. receipt.

[the Deejay]

I think Doosuk is a member. JMO.

[BARLF]

I know, just a little bit of sarcasm there. Really bugs me that LE was through with the investigation of vD's and the four pizzateers and related families in 24 hours after Danielle was reported missing.

Capt. Ron Newman..we're moving on. Yep, a couple doors down the street.

[small_l_libertarian]

I don't know. This was included in an article from the prelim. I just saw it and grabbed it, because we were looking for the receipts a few days ago. If I stumble across anything else, I'll be sure to post it.

[L,TOWM]

Wow.

Case tossed by jurror me, when I find out that LE,

IN ANY WAY LIED OR "EMBELLISHED" TO GET WARRANTS, EVIDENCE, OR FORENSIC TESTING.

Wow.

[the Deejay]

Personally, I would have had all my car doors locked &
would not have let them inside. Me, I would have made
faces at them, given them the "bird" & turned up the radio!

[I. Ben Hurt]

small_1_------You are amazing!!!

[domestice]

The reason I was curious is because, it seemed to me, that OJ was guilty. If his jury was sequestered, then that would help him, the defendant. It obviously did, since he was not convicted. OTOH, Why is it that DW's jury was not sequestered?? Being that it is such a high profile case...could it be that someone wants the jury to be influenced by the media BS???

That the only conclusion I can come up w/. Maybe there are other reasons that I don't understand.

[Space Wrangler]

Can you, or anyone else tell me why Feldman didn't make any more of a fuss about the reciept indicating the jacket was dropped off on 1/26?? I started off in this case pretty much disbelieving that someone like Westerfield was capable of this crime without showing some sort of pre-disposition to it in the past. Now that I have really looked at the evidence, including non-matching fibers, a single fingerprint, and 'no-hit' hit by 180 Frank, the bug guys, and now the very real possibility that the DNA was planted on the jacket, I really don't see how a conviction is possible. Of course I know this IS Kalifornia, but come on, this had to be the worst performance I've ever seen by a prosecutor. But I digress. So any idea why Feldman just kind of left the receipt topic just knd of hang there??

[the Deejay]

"Why is it that DW's jury was not sequestered??

County funds. The judge is watching out for the county's wallet.

[UCANSEE2]

So they find the receipt for the black pants,sweater, etc. that DW took in on 02/04 (cause Barb/Brenda drooled all over it on Friday). The police take that receipt and go to TP DCleaners and have a warrant for ANY/ALL items of DW's.

(SPECULATION SECTION: BONUS, OTT goes there first, while officers with warrant are out stumbling around all DRY CLEANERS BUT T.P.
Ott finds that DW has a green jacket there. He has them get it and the receipt. WHile getting the receipt, OTT puts a spot of Danielle's DNA on the lapel.)

Ott picks up his own stuff and leaves.

LE's with search warrant come by pick up all DW's stuff. The receipt for the green jacket says 01/27, but Someone has mixed all the items together in a pile, so LE's on scene think it all belongs with the 02/04 stuff.

[domestice]

Well, if anything, he really knows how to twist things. I believe in his opening statements he said he was going to PROVE that DW did this, did that, yada yada....he didn't prove jack squat.

[afraidfortherepublic]

In a 165-page deposition Campbell gave to Sears' attorneys Nov. 4, he detailed his love affair with Mrs. Walsh during the two years he lived in the family's home. Campbell, who coached Adam's baseball team and was the boy's godfather, said Walsh and his wife smoked marijuana and used cocaine.

Thanks for posting that. When I mentioned this incident on another thread, I was roundly flamed and told that I was gossip-mongering and making up "untruths" about a wonderful and heartbroken family. Now it comes out (within the last week, or so) that Walsh is currently cheating on his wife, as well as she was cheating on him during the time of Adam's disappearence.

I don't care if he has a "hit" show that he created, based on the tragedy that his son suffered. I really don't want to know any more about his sordid life, or hear his "expert" opinions on current cases. Publicize the cases -- he does that very well -- but, please no more maudlin opinionizing!

[the Deejay]

Plus, saying things off the cuff during his closings.
Sheeesh! Whatta lousy prosecutor.

[NatureGirl]

Yes, Rheo. That's the search warrant that Alldredge (I keep spelling his name different ways!) got at 1 am, 2/5.

[Rheo]

So any idea why Feldman just kind of left the receipt topic just knd of hang there??

Reasonable doubt?

I am disappointed that a few things got left hanging out there..especially after dissecting every dang word!!

The term "sport jacket" has always seemed very odd to me...you cannot mistake that fall/winter jacket for a sport coat...even if you are a 12 year employee that doesn't know your POE address.

[Jaded]

Not sequestering the jury because he's looking out for San Diego County's pocketbook. Well isn't Hisself Judge Mudd just the conscientious little county employee? Let's put a gold star by his name. /so

[UCANSEE2]

Maybe there are other reasons that I don't understand.

No, you pretty much got it. DA up for re-election. Suddenly he has a high profile case on his hands. Needs a perp. Finds one and decides to jump in hard on this case as it has gone NATIONAL. Who knows, maybe he can get national attention and get even higher into politics!

So, now that he finds out the evidence is weak, that DW probably isn't the perp.

TOO LATE. THE CAMERAS ALL OVER THE NATION ARE ON SD. Well, can't lose this one. Not only might he lose the re-election, but he would be made into AN IDIOT on NATIONAL TV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better to sacrifice the PAWN, than let the KING be captured. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rheo]

Your post was very good and I am trying to get back to it to ponder.

Great catch!

[the Deejay]

"The receipt for the green jacket says 01/27, but Someone has mixed all the items together in a pile, so LE's on scene think it all belongs with the 02/04 stuff."

Real good organization........Not!