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It is a problem. All this recent public rumor, and the testimony in the "sentencing phase" (despicable practise, it is, breaks the legs of Justice by Jury) gives more credence to the "creep" theory -- but NONE of that was in evidence or testimony during the trial. Just as possible rumor and backgound innuendo fed to certain media faces and "advisors" to fire the massive media barrage against Westerfield that surely poisoned the jury in this case.

So yes -- the best can be said is "If Westerfield did it." That's a problem, a problem -- to my thinking -- in Jury Trial procedures that have come to pass, and that are still novel -- the use of plea bargaining, the suppression of any evidence or rumor from presentation to the Jury -- a Jury should be most fully informed of everything, and given direction as to the legal weighing of hearsay, improperly gained testimony and evidence etc. and this rotten invention called a "sentencing phase".