Posted on 03/08/2002 7:54:30 AM PST by FresnoDA
If Westerfield had been really, really smart, he would have talked to the cops for a few hours, confessed to the crime,directed the cops to some damning evidence, and THEN called his lawyer and said "These guys came in here and threatened me."(Of course, I am here assuming his guilt.) The court would have to supress any evidene that could be linked in any way to the illegal interview.
( 03-08-2002 ) - Attorneys for the man charged with Danielle van Dam's death are heading to court Friday morning.
David Westerfield's attorney Steven Feldman is again asking the judge to issue a gag order in the case.
Feldman originally made the request during Westerfield's arraignment, but the judge said it was too early to make such a call.
The defense argues a gag order is needed for a fair trial.
Meanwhile, Westerfield got a jailhouse visit from two detectives, and it's causing a lot of trouble.
The visit was neither authorized nor ethical according to legal experts.
In a six-page motion filed by defense attorney Steven Feldman, he accuses the two San Diego detectives of "outrageous, impermissible conduct."
"Let the case be tried in the courtroom not on the streets of San Diego," said Feldman to a crowd of media outside Westerfield's February 26 arraignment.
Last week Feldman criticized the media, saying that all the news coverage would hurt his client's chance at a fair trial. Now, Feldman is attacking the cops, and it appears he has every right to do so.
San Diego police admit two of their detectives tried to visit David Westerfield in jail without asking for Feldman's permission. In fact they didn't even ask prosecutors if it was okay.
"It's a clear violation of the United States constitution," said Defense Attorney Bill Nimmo.
Bill Nimmo is a well-known defense attorney in San Diego. He's not involved in the Westerfield case, but he feels police blew it.
"Whether their mistake was a rookie mistake or whether it was some calculated intent we don't know but it was certainly wrong and it is going to come back to haunt them the law enforcement end of this at the trial stage."
In a written statement, Captain Ron Newman, the man in charge of the detectives on the case said, "It did happen. It is inappropriate once someone is represented to make contact with him. We will have no further comment and it is something we have handled internally."
Police admit they messed up, but they say their detectives didn't even talk to Westerfield. Meaning the slip up won't effect the strength of their case.
Nevertheless, Feldman is taking a whack at their credibility. He demands the courts "prohibit further outrageous governmental misconduct."
David Westerfield is scheduled to be back in court Monday, March 11 for a preliminary hearing. >
Hmmm...wonder if these two detectives have ever stopped for burgers and fries at Dad's Cafe? Let's hope there is a closer look, to see if they have been to any late night pizza parties in Poway??
In some stories of past cases involving pedophiles, especially where there are allegations of organized kiddie sex activity, I've read that there are rumors of contacts and info leaks from within local police forces.
Could this be the way "fellow travelers" in that world give each other a hand (so to speak). That is, some guy gets caught, but one or two cops who might share his proclivities will happen to have a "lapse of judgement" which is just a blot on their record, but could cause a serious flaw in the case against the guy on trial?
It would be interesting for some talented private investigator to reconnoiter the homes of those two cops who had made the gaffe and see if they had any material similar to what was found at Westerfield's house...
Mark W.
I can't imagine what those two clowns were thinking. Maybe since the guy has a 'desertion charge against him, they consider him convicted/sentenced hands down?
sw
It seems to me that this jibes almost perfectly with your theory that there is more to this case than meets the eye. From all the reports we've seen [Danielle's blood in Westerfield's motor home, child porn on Westerfield's computer, Westerfield's inability to account for his whereabouts beginning at exactly the time - 9:30AM Friday morning - that the Van Dams discovered Danielle missing], the SDPD and the DA have more than enough evidence to nail Westerfield. The only possible reason these detectives would want to re-interview Westerfield is that they don't believe he's the perp - or that they suspect that he was not working alone.
I am curious about the desertion charge, which I can only speculate wildly on..based on westerfield's age it may have to do with the Vietnman Conflict which President Ford granted limited amnesty in 1974. There were between 500,000 and 1,500,000 desertion or AWOL people during the conflict.and numerous draft dodgers..Amnesty
Best I can figure is a 5 year statute of limitations unless desertion was during time of war and there is no statute of limitations...since Mr. Westerfield was arrested for DWI in 1996 his fingerprints would have gone to the FBI and I would think they would have been a "hit" on them for desertion, unless of course since his recent notoriety someone "ratted" him off....then again it may be a BS charge. nothing in the papers about this-why?....Monday should tell a tale at the prelim hearing..regards...
wrt;the 2 investigators..since nothing was gained except more media coverage, probably nothing will happen more than a slap on the wrist.
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