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]

with a bloodstain on the ankle area

The shirt cuff, of both the pj's and purple shirt....not sure why Feldman was saying ankle but it may have been why he was objected.

[domestice]

another one..some knucklehead professor who says..it is absolutely true, that there is no absolute truth

[Rheo]

Layla is not human....Annette Peer testified it showed human DNA but could not get readable results.

[Jaded]

Her brain is a potato chip. John Jamieson said so.

[the Deejay]

No matter how thin you slice it (not directed at you),there isn't enough blood evidence (alone), in this case to prove DW did it.

There certainly isn't enough to prove murder. And if she wasn't murdered at home, then the blood on the pjs, nor anywhere else in the house, it's moot.

[John Jamieson]

The police didn't have her blood and didn't need it, because they never proved the stains were human blood, much less Danielle's. All they needed was DNA which they had from her underware.

[Jaded]

They had blood from her clothing and who know what else.

[Rheo]

Let's not forget this part:

Feb 5th warrant 27802 to search Westerfield's computer, computer files and disks for images of nudity and/or sexual activities involving juveniles and/or with adults. The portion sealed on this warrant is Attachment "1"...last full paragrph on page 3 starting w/Van Dam stated and ending w/Westerfield.

What did the Van Dam's know about Westerfield's computer and how??...Brenda didn't even know his name a week prior??(ya right)

[NatureGirl]

That's one of my favourite quotes from Ayn Rand. She refers to it several times - some author or professor saying "There are no absolutes". LOL

The other one is "Why do you think that you think?"

I was reminded very much of these quotes (and of Ayn Rand in general) when Dusek was making his closing argument. Especially the bit about "if everyone else agrees on something, and you don't, maybe you're the one that's wrong". Rand had one of her characters phrase it as, "Who are you to be so sure?"

[the Deejay]

I caught that guy talking out of the other side of his mouth after I sent my post! Someone must have kicked him in the shin. LOL

In actual fact, it was the prosecution that brought the vdams lifestyle into the case. (There was no objection.) Not the defense, as Feldman stated in his closing argument. But don't anyone tell that to ctv.

[the Deejay]

"they never proved the stains were human blood."

Exactly how I remember about the blood, as well as
stains.

[UCANSEE2]

Yes, but it wasn't "plantable" blood. It was on her pj's. LE would have to have a vial of her blood in order to plant on the jacket, etc., besides at that time, the didn't even have her body. The body was found on 2/27.

I think others have already stated exactly how DNA can be taken from the PJ's and used to plant. They didn't have to have any volume of blood, just a trickle of DNA. They could make a spot with KETCHUP packet from McDonald's and press a Q-tip dab on it from the PJ's.

[the Deejay]

Did Feldman get to do any independant testing of the
hair, fibers & blood?

[the Deejay]

"if everyone else agrees on something, and you don't, maybe you're the one that's wrong".

I wonder if Doosuk knows that sword cuts both ways?

[Krodg]

Thanks Rheo. I was getting confused again. When Feldman said that about the ankle I didn't think anything about it since some pj's have cuffs on the bottoms too.

[Green]

I thought I read somewhere that the DNA used to match came from her rib.

[MizSterious]

"Did Damon share after the interview? Enquiring minds need to know (or maybe not!)."

Pinz, there are some things I'd rather not picture. Brenda and John Walsh..er..together...is one of them.

...now where is that Clorox? I need to wash out my brain!

[the Deejay]

Judging by the ctv jury clock, just a tad over 25 hours,
then in a week's time, they've only deliberated a little
over a day.

[the Deejay]

Yes, they got her DNA from a rib.

[domestice]

Yep! What a world we live in today. Thank God that there is some truth floating around out there & people, like you, who use their brains! :-)

As Arnold would say "I'll be back" gotta take the kids out to play some!