[pyx]

I know for a fact that at least since mid-June when I have discussed this case with you on IRC that you have been convinced that Westerfield was guilty.

Until these latest revelations about attempts at plea deals on behalf of David Westerfield, I have strongly disagreed with you and believed David Alan Westerfield was innocent. I based my opinion solely on the evidence given by the forensic entomologists (insect experts) as well as the evidence involving tracking dogs. As you know I have personal working knowledge of training tracking/drug/explosives dogs. Another factor that bothered me and kept me sitting on the undecided fence before hoping down on the not guilty side, was the lack of evidence of Westerfield inside the Van Dam house.

It appears with these latest revelations about plea deals, if true, I was completely and totally wrong in my conclusions about David Alan Westerfield.

From a completely detached and unemotional perspective, any defendant, whether guity or not, is entitled to as vigorous a defense as is legally and ethically possible. As laymen, the general public definately doesn't like it if it appears to be a particularly heinous or gruesome crime as was in this case. Unemotional analysis for most of the general public is a skill of which they are completely devoid. As an example, firemen, paramedics and others require unemotional analysis and professional detachment in order to effectively perform their job duties.

[Illbay]

Unemotional analysis for most of the general public is a skill of which they are completely devoid.

It is not required that the "general public" be unemotional in their analysis of a heinous crime. In fact, I suggest that it is of BENEFIT for a prosecuting attorney to be "emotional" about the death of an innocent child at the hands of a monster. Passion often fuels extraordinary effort.

I for one am glad that our fighting men in Afghanistan remembered why they were there, and had the passion to do a very thorough job.

This "unemotional analysis" fraud is typical of someone who really doesn't want to believe this guy was guilty. Take away the emotion, and what's the big deal, really?