Experts see fertile ground for appeals In Westerfield Trail

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/20020919-9999_1n19appeal.html ^ | September 19, 2002 | Greg Moran

[spectre]

Alas, Southflank...you are right.

"It's showtime, folks"...

sw

[CAPPSMADNESS]

LOL!!!

Gosh-o-gee-o-whiilakers how I do so hate Cokey's!!!!

[Freedom2specul8]

'Justice was served,' says grandmother

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/20020822-9999_1n22grandma.html

By Kristen Green
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

August 22, 2002

Danielle van Dam's grandmother was at work in a retirement home near Gainesville, Fla., yesterday when she heard the jury had reached a verdict.

Joan Cope turned on the television in a resident's room and searched for a station broadcasting the news. She learned that David Westerfield had been convicted of kidnapping and murdering her only granddaughter.

"I was so happy, I cried," she said.

Her husband, Thomas, and son, Thomas Jr. – Brenda van Dam's father and brother – were watching elsewhere.

"My husband cried," Cope said. "My son cried."

Danielle's parents, Brenda and Damon van Dam, are prohibited from speaking about the verdict because of a gag order on witnesses in the case. The grandmother is the first relative to speak for the family.

Cope said that when she got home from work, she again watched the verdict on television. When Thomas arrived, they replayed it on the computer three times.

The verdict brought them peace.

"It doesn't bring our baby back, but justice was served, and that man can never hurt anyone again," Cope said.

She talked with Brenda on the phone yesterday and said the family was relieved.

The Copes flew to San Diego after Danielle disappeared Feb. 2 to support the family. They visited again this summer, attending two days of the trial. Brenda's brother wants to return in September to commemorate what would have been Danielle's eighth birthday.

Cope said she hopes that the jury will sentence Westerfield to death. Danielle, she said, "got the death penalty."

"He's taken someone so precious to us," Cope said. "She was a very strong little girl, and she was fighting for her life."

Then, Cope added: "I really want him to have to think about what he's done to her . . .
That was my angel."


Kristen Green: (619) 542-4576; kristen.green@uniontrib.com

[John Jamieson]

I wouldn't expect her to feel any other way.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

PISSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Aah.........there. Better now.

[EllaMinnow]

Parents in Sabre Springs say slaying has left an imprint of caution

By Blanca Gonzalez and Elizabeth Fitzsimons
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS

September 17, 2002

Cheryl Carlson doesn't take anything for granted anymore. Eight months ago, she wouldn't have thought twice about letting her daughter, Savannah, walk down the street, just a few houses away, to play with a friend. But it is different now in her Sabre Springs neighborhood.

Danielle van Dam, one of Savannah's friends, was murdered by David Westerfield eight months ago, and yesterday a jury recommended he die for the crime. Carlson said her gut reaction is to be happy with the death penalty verdict and that Westerfield won't hurt anyone else.





Many parents in the north San Diego neighborhood want to put the ugly tragedy behind them, but they know it won't be easy.

"The kids don't play outside as much," Carlson said. "We are a lot more cautious than we used to be."

Parents picking up their children yesterday afternoon at Creekside Elementary, where Danielle attended school, had mixed reactions to the verdict. Some offered a curt "happy" or "great" and moved on. Others wrestled with their feelings about the death penalty.

"I'm Catholic, so it's hard for me," said Emily Lee. "(Westerfield's) crime was horrific. . . . I'm torn."

Like Carlson, Lee believes Danielle's kidnapping and murder will leave a lasting imprint on parents.

"We were so alarmed," Lee said. "We have become very careful, more vigilant about everything."

Caroline Maas, mother of three, was surprised by the death verdict.

"I thought life (in prison) was a possibility . . . if you compare him to someone like Charles Manson." Maas said that even though she didn't know Danielle, she thinks of her every day and echoed those who said justice was served.

Vicky Hoey said she has struggled with the death penalty for years.

"I'm just glad I wasn't on that jury," said Hoey. "My heart goes out to the van Dams, of course. I hope this brings them some measure of peace . . . although I don't know how."

Hoey and other parents said they are ready to move on.

"I'm very happy with the decision," said Holly Vitrano, whose daughter had been in Danielle's class. "I'm glad to put this behind us."

Frederick McClelland, a lawyer whose son had been a classmate of Danielle's, said justice was done.

"If he wasn't guilty, you would have seen more of a normal reaction from him," he said, referring to Westerfield's expressionless demeanor when the verdict was read.

Epitachio Cruz, who was picking up his 6-year-old grandson at Creekside, agreed. "He's guilty, so I'm with the jury. I think he got what he deserved."

After the verdict was read, there were two patrons at Dad's Cafe and Steakhouse, the Poway bar and restaurant where Brenda van Dam was seen the night before Danielle was reported missing.

Bill Wallner, 59, of Poway was sitting at the end of the bar drinking a pint of beer and playing an interactive video game. He expressed surprise at the verdict.

"I heard one juror was the last to go along with the conviction. . . . You gotta kinda wonder what was going on with that juror," said Wallner. "I'm sure we are now going into the phase of appeal No. 1, appeal No. 2, appeal No. 3 and so on. . . . The fat lady is not even in the county."

Ken Worley, 67, of Poway said he believes the justice system works.

"They were thorough and they sure took their time," Worley said of the jury. And he was critical of the media that covered the case. "I thought it was ridiculous the way they swarmed over here when the (guilty) verdict was read."

Yesterday, satellite trucks and TV news vans again camped on the van Dams' street. In the late afternoon, when Brenda and Damon van Dam pulled into their driveway with their two sons, reporters and cameramen rushed to surround the family.

Someone yelled "How do you feel?" Brenda van Dam said, "Relieved." The van Dams said they would make a statement today at La Jolla Shores, Danielle's favorite beach, where a memorial was held for her in March.

Earlier, a couple from Michigan toured the neighborhood. Bill and Karen Bouman had been following the case on Court TV and, while staying at the Lawrence Welk Resort north of Escondido, decided to "see the sights," Bill Bouman said.

They had a look at Westerfield's home and the van Dam home. After looking around, Karen Bouman said, "It just doesn't look like a neighborhood where something like that would happen to a little girl."

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[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Poof........you're gone.

[Freedom2specul8]

Me either John....how could anyone think otherwise. :-(

[Freedom2specul8]

the ragweed season is in full force here. Scuse me while I SNEEZE..AND type better.

That should have read *Me "too" John*

[EllaMinnow]

Kim, have you ever seen this site?

http://www.holoworld.com/mrsbrady/

[bonfire]

Removed the ashes, quit forcing them to play in Danielle's room, take down the shower curtain..... etc.

sick.

[Freedom2specul8]

No I haven't... thanks for sharing.
Looks like the entire site is devoted to cases of missing kids..

[Freedom2specul8]

They should switch to a clear shower curtain for a while...

[cyncooper]

take down the shower curtain..... etc.

And get water all over the floor?

[Bluebird Singing]

Dusek said he was going to tell the jury how Westerfield did it - was there evidence of Westerfield being in the kids' bathroom presented in the trial?

[John Jamieson]

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

[pinz-n-needlez]

Whether or not he's actually there. lol

[EllaMinnow]

Do you realize that you're joking about a little boy whose sister was murdered - and as a result he's scared of what might be hiding in his house?

Do you really think that's funny?

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

As someone said earlier......would there not have been shoe prints on the shower bottom, etc.?

This is stupid and if that poor little boy is frightened it is because his we-need-to-be-in-the-limelight, sleazy parents have planted the ideas in his head. The shower theory is theirs and obviously that's where the child heard it.

I know there are many (like the Brendateers) that want to elevate Damon and Brenda to Parents of the Year, but at some point they are responsible for their own decisions no matter what their fan club thinks..

[John Jamieson]

No joking, and it's not funny. I still think there is another childkiller out there associated with Danielle's tragic death. I believe Danielle was probably alive until mid Feb and I can't even think of the terror she went through.