Judge Mudd Refuses Sequester Plea: Westerfield Jury Verdict In Sep? (Aug. 16th Verdict Watch)

Union Trib ^ | August 15, 2002 | Jeff Dillion/Steve Perez

[shezza]

Excellent analysis. Kudos for putting everything so precisely in a nutshell.

[the Deejay]

Why is court tv rerunning Nancy Grace from this morning?
Once a day isn't enough torture for us?

[mommya]

Great find wonders!

[NatureGirl]

Smokey Backroom

Did that section just start? There's one on (ahem) another site, called the Biker Bar, where the main event seems to be bashing FR.

I think it's a clever idea, except for one thing - what if people just want to come in and rant and rave at people for no particular reason? Is that still allowed within the context of the thread? And that includes stalking...In some ways, it seems like it'd just be a "thread-killer".

I'm far more witheringly sarcastic in person. I don't think it would translate well to print. ;-)

[VRWC_minion]

We do know they took a closer look at the fibers. Why bother with them if the bugs were as good as an alibi ?

[clearvision]

Also if the body mummified so quickly in 2 days, why did the mummification stop for the next 4 weeks?

[Jaded]

OTOH, they may find him not guilty of murder and kidnap and guilty on porn. They have to find him guilty of something.

[VRWC_minion]

We don't know which jurors are asking for which evidence

So all we can assume is at least one juror may not believe the bugs of is being methodical.

[KnutCase]

My girl friend says I do a lot of things much younger. Not to brag, though...

[Freedom2specul8]

Hi Wonders!! Long time no see! Nice informative post. But how much experience have those bug experts had with mummified bodies in Danielle's state or condition? I was under the impression little nor none.

Also, if I recall correctly, many animals could have been the culprit, including but not limited to rodents.

[NatureGirl]

The mummification process, which was proven to be able to start and occur with in 24hrs on a small body...

On low-density (low body-fat) areas, such as the hands and feet. NOT areas such as the genitalia. The genitals would not have mummified so quickly, and were also a good entry point for flies, very attractive to them, without any "animal damage".

[small_l_libertarian]

Thoughts on the items the jury has requested ... there may be some reasonable doubters on the jury that are requesting these things to try and sway the guilty voters.

They might be divided just like we are.

[Freedom2specul8]

Correct, her skin was mummified, her brain was intact, the body simply did NOT decompose normally. The winds, temp etc had a lot to do with it. All I'm saying is, that the jury has or will consider the mummification testimony, it could hurt the defense. (I hope they consider it)

[small_l_libertarian]

In my opinion, the mummy stuff was made up out of whole cloth when Dusek realized that Faulkner undermined his whole case. Sound and fury, signifying nothing.

The green bottle flies won't lay eggs on a body that isn't fresh.

[NatureGirl]

I always thought it was the defense that didn't have to prove anything

In this case (per Jeff Dusek) the prosecution didn't have to "prove nuttin' to nobody" neither.

Why bother with that smelly ol' system of justice anyway? Taxpayers could just forward their checks to the DA, everyone gets paid, and the "suspect" (wink wink) gets to meet Mr. Hemp at dawn.

[KnutCase]

"They might be divided just as we are"

No doubt about it, if they were close to agreement from the beginning this trial would be over.

[Freedom2specul8]

The skin is the issue..it was mummified first..the body fluids are the second issue..they did not settle beneath the body like normal. The third issue is that since the body didn't decompose in the normal way, the standards for testing the TOD or even Date of dumping..has to be altered to account for the oddities. (don't you just love normal discussions without the bs)

[Politicalmom]

WHAT???

[NatureGirl]

the newly-exposed underlying organs/tissues would be too decomposed at that stage

Thanks for reminding me of that. I knew there was another reason why the flies wouldn't bother at a late date, even if the animals had been there - and that was the detail I was missing.

[Freedom2specul8]

I think it was shown later that they will, as long as the area has moisture....but I don't have the testimony in front of me.