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.

[The Other Harry]

Thanks!

So, far, this all sounds okay for DW. I do get the impression the jury is being methodical. #95 will be a good foreman, etc.

[small_l_libertarian]

You are most welcome. Gonna go read some more transcripts before bed - gotta find Ott!

[KnutCase]

You've got a better memory than me. But, I'm 60 years older than you....senility may starting to set in.

[sawsalimb]

nope-gotta go look. But if Ott has been credibly accused of falsifying(or otherwise tampering) with evidence in other cases(Is he the detective who was formally reprimanded for evidence tampering on another case? think so...),as far as I'm concerned,the prosecution's case just turned into a slowly expanding cloud of sub atomic particles. Of course that's me talking,and my vote doesn't count.

[dread78645]

Once the evidence is disclosed, it is frozen, and they can't alter it anymore because it is a matter of public record.

In the movie business, they have a "continuity coordinator".
Somebody that makes sure the action looks the same from scene to scene: A lime in the bar isn't a lemon on the next days shot, scars on the left side of the villian's face doesn't move to the right side.

The SD DA's office needs one of them.

[Jaded]

Gets more talented every day, huh?

[small_l_libertarian]

Yes. Scary, ain't it?

[Jaded]

There have always been rumors that the master bedroom was the actual crime scene. Hmm, wasn't that where the steam cleaner was?

[small_l_libertarian]

Here you go:

In the Nov. 29, 2000, memo, an investigator for the District Attorney's Office informed a prosecutor of his belief that Ott and Keyser falsified facts in an affidavit to get an arrest warrant for a man held in the case.

Link: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/20020416-9999_1m16wester.html

[dread78645]

I can only think of two possible reasons for the body to be placed where it was.

Killer in a big hurry to leave town (permanently) and found secluded spot (obvious cause other people dump there) and figured no one would see him do it.

Only other reason, what JJ said. TO make sure searchers COULD FIND the body. So the insurance claim could be paid.

-- or --

It was a spot that didn't have press or searchers crawling all over.
Besides, it was on my way home after putting out all those signs and passing out flyers ...

[The Other Harry]

I can only think of two possible reasons for the body to be placed where it was.

I don't like any of your guesses as to the body placement. It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

[sawsalimb]

Here's one back at you

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/20020620-9999_noon1.html

That's an article,not a transcript. A lady named Annette Peer is quoted as testifying that she personally collected samples from 3 places in the Westerfield motorhome. What it doesn't say is if she found them before or after Ott was in the motorhome. Does this blow any holes in your theory? (The timeline here is critical,I would imagine)

[Jaded]

Stealth Ninja Dave

**FREE NINJA DAVE**FREE NINJA DAVE**FREE NINJA DAVE**

[demsux]

anyone know the first names of ott and/or keyser?

[small_l_libertarian]

Here's Ott at the drycleaners: (From Julie Mills - Trial - cross-exam by Feldman)

Q: DO YOU KNOW A DETECTIVE NAMED OTT?
A: YES, I DO.

Q: DOES HE COME AND DO BUSINESS WITH YOU?
A: YES, HE DID.

Q: AROUND THE SAME TIME?
A: AROUND THE SAME TIME?

Q: AS FEBRUARY 4TH.
A: I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN HE CAME IN.

Q: YOU DON'T REMEMBER. DOES DETECTIVE OTT COME IN IN A CAR?
A: YES, HE DOES.

Q: DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT KIND OF CAR HE DRIVES?
A: NO, I DON'T. I HAVEN'T KNOWN HIM -- I'M SORRY.

[small_l_libertarian]

I'll check out Annette Peer's Preliminary testimony (and anything else I can find out about her from the prelim). Nobody seems to have their story straight yet there.

[small_l_libertarian]

Michael Ott and Mark Keyser.

[The Other Harry]

Fwiw, I think you've really done an excellent job on the website.

There is a lot of substantive information there, and you have a wonderful sense of humor.

I hope you save that. Someday it might be important.

Are you the person who coined the term "Stealth Ninja Dave"? That is an absolute classic. It sums up everything in just three words.

[demsux]

Aren't ott and keyser the cops that tried to "visit" DW while he was in jail?

WTF were they thinking...he had a lawyer.

Rookie mistake, I think not.

[small_l_libertarian]

Aha! This puts Ott in the drycleaners one to two days before Torgersen: (Also from Jennifer Mills cross at trial)

Q: DID YOU RECEIVE ANY COMMUNICATION FROM DETECTIVE OTT CONCERNING ANY ASPECT OF YOUR RECEIPT OF THESE PARTICULAR ITEMS OF EVIDENCE?
A: NO, I DID NOT. HE WAS A CUSTOMER OF MINE. AND WE JUST TALKED THAT KIND OF COMMUNICATION, JUST AS A CUSTOMER AND MYSELF. NOT CONCERNING THIS.

Q: OKAY. SO YOU NEVER DISCUSSED WITH DETECTIVE --
A: NO.

Q: -- OTT WHETHER OR NOT HE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH DAVID WESTERFIELD OR THE VAN DAM CASE.
A: I DON'T BELIEVE I DID.

Q: THEN WHO WAS THE FIRST OFFICER THAT CAME TO VISIT YOU, IF YOU RECALL, MA'AM?
A: I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME.

Q: BUT YOU REMEMBER THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DAY OR TWO LATER, IS THAT RIGHT?
A: YES.