Judge upholds death sentence in van Dam killing

CNN ^ | 1/1/03 | CNN

[SunStar]

SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) --San Diego Superior Court Judge William Mudd on Friday refused to overturn a recommended death sentence for David Westerfield in the February murder of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.

"The court finds that the weight of the evidence ... supports the jury's verdict of death," Mudd said.

[demsux]

If someone directs a post REGARDING ME, I feel the right to respond...don't worry, otherwise I would not waste my time with you.

BTW, I couldn't care less of your opinion of my credibility.

[Freedom2specul8]

yeah........

[ED Basher]

Lethal injection is a joke. Being put to sleep like a beloved family dog is not punishment. We lost the battle when they got rid of the chair, gas chamber, and hanging (real scary ways to go).

I kinda of like the irony of our screwed up death penalty system. These bastards are stuck in isolation for years. They never really know when they are going the get put down. This stress IS their well deserved cruel and unusual punishment. Being put down should be thought of as their reward. We're all going to die someday and most of us want to in our sleep anyway ! The funny part is the liberals in their crazy efforts to extend the lives of the convicted are only extending their punishment !!

As far the legal costs; if the public defenders weren't wasting their time on these POS's they would be out suing McDonalds, gun companies, etc. Either way we're going to end up footing the bill; but having a long and screwed up death penalty process gives the whiners something to cry about. Once they win the death penalty battle, they're just going to start crying about something else ...

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

600 in line ahead of him? Geesh, the $$$ spent on these people while waiting. Maybe we need to bring back executions and have it done immediately.

Ill go one further we need to make them as public as possable !

[demsux]

Waters Off Berkeley Marina Searched for Signs of Modesto Woman

Sue McGuire for KCBS-740 AM (KCBS) -Police divers spent Saturday searching the water near the Berkeley Marina for any signs of a missing Modesto woman.

Laci Peterson has been missing since Christmas Eve, the same day her husband says he came to the Marina to go fishing only to return home and find his wife missing.

KCBS reporter Bob Butler at the Marina says special dogs that can detect human scent in the water were used to survey the water and shortly before 3 p.m. a hit came back.

"One of the teams detected that there might be something to look for and we at this point don't know if it's substantial. We've got the divers here and we'll go ahead and use them and check out the spot," said a spokesman from the Berkeley Police Department.

Police said earlier this week they need to get more information to back up Scott Peterson's alibi for the day his wife disappeared saying the husband "had been less than cooperative."

Police refused to answer any questions about Laci Peterson's husband, Scott. But they have released pictures of his truck and boat, and ask that anyone who saw either on Christmas Eve to contact them.

The dogs in the Van Dam case did not "hit" on Westerfield's house, SUV or motorhome.

Maybe they had colds and couldn't smell

[bvw]

Well, it streches credulity beyond hope to take that excuse as an honesty. Say it was honest ... it's such a lamer of an excuse that it's best not the speak it, even in privacy to a trusted confidant. It needs some other support even in the most private discussion.

Best I'd make of it is that shame makes people lie badly. Westerfield's shame provokes a bad lie. Generally, a good liar has no to little shame.

[Freedom2specul8]

Oh, I thought you were referring to my exchange with dems.. sorry bout that! See how easy it is to misunderstand each others words.. DW's only reason to lie is self-preservation... why is he afraid to admit the truth? What are the intentions of his heart?

[Freedom2specul8]

Dems caused me to spend a few moments searching for "statistics". I'm looking for training statistics on search and rescue dogs... percentage of success rates vs percentage of failure rates.

Thought this was interesting...explains what happens to alzheimer patients who get lost. It doesn't have a thing to do with our discussion...but it's good info to think about if one has an elderly loved one who gets senile or has alzheimers.

http://www.dbs-sar.com/SAR_Research/Wandering_Characteristics.htm

[sissyjane]

Cherokee Young may have been more than happy to LIE for her friend.


Thanks for the personal attack.I'm sure you feel much better now.

[demsux]

My mother died of complications from alzheimer's disease two years ago.

[Freedom2specul8]

I'm very sorry to hear that... I remember a wonderful family, who use to come in to a restaurant I worked at back when I was 20yrs old. Every thursday night, a grandpa, his wife, 2 sons, daughter-n-laws and grandkids came in the entire time I worked there (about a year and 1/2)..they were so very nice. I left the job and then came back part-time while in college. I saw him and asked him how his wife was.. he said she was too sick to visit.. I told him how sorry I was to hear that and that I hope she gets better soon. He told me they made the weekly visits because she had alzheimers..and it was their way of staying close through the ordeal. Now that broke my heart because I never knew from the previous year.. :( He said she wouldn't be able to come back...

[LADY J]

"A capital crime requires a high-standard of incontrovertable proof. That condition has never been had in this case. So why did the jurors find for guilt? Because of the mob frenzy that was stirred up."

Just as this case was ready to go to trial - Westerfield & his attorneys were cutting a deal for him to show the police where her body was. Fate stepped in and her body was found as the prosecuters were debating about whether or not to give him a deal.

The whole time that Westerfield's attorney put on that horse & pony show in the courtroom - the judge - the prosecuters and anyone involved knew that Westerfield was guilty by his own admission.

There was even talk of outraged people wanting his lawyer disbarred for putting on this shameful scam and concentrating on the parents to protect his guilty client.

[bvw]

One ... that's only a rumor.

Two ... taking it for face value: That a person knows wehere a body is does not make him a murderer, or even necessarily an accomplice. Presumption of Innocence, that golden shield, still holds.

[demsux]

It's the most hellish disease that I have ever encountered. Thanks for your sympathies with regard to my mom.

[Jaded]

Kim you are as bad as the media. If you are going to quote the story quote it right!!! Sheesh.

[Jaded]

WRT:brenda flirting with strangers...I saw flirting with strangers in bars back when I was a youngster..nothing new here. Dems just needs to move along..

So you flirt with strangers in bars when you're married? You obviously think it's normal and acceptable. Gee Kimmie we thought your were above that. You have a lot of room talking about other posters.

[Jaded]

Oh, I thought you were referring to my exchange with dems.. sorry bout that! See how easy it is to misunderstand each others words.. DW's only reason to lie is self-preservation... why is he afraid to admit the truth? What are the intentions of his heart?

and yours?

[demsux]

So you flirt with strangers in bars when you're married? You obviously think it's normal and acceptable.

I wonder who else Brenda invited back to the house that night? Remember, Brooke Rowland, arrested in connection with the international porn ring on Feb. 15-16, lived within walking distance of Dad's Bar.

BTW, didn't the bug experts say the body was exposed to the bugs around Feb. 15-16?

[Freedom2specul8]

No jaded I don't think it's ok to flirt while married, but bar hoppers have a different "standard"...as we've all been thoroughly educated on. As my dear dad once said..it's a breeding ground for "immoral activities".

[Freedom2specul8]

I know it had to be hard on ya...