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| San Diego area police investigating the kidnapping of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam arrested 50-year-old neighbor David Westerfield on February 22, 2002. Westerfield, who had been questioned by police repeatedly in the three weeks since the second-grader disappeared, was taken into custody at his San Diego attorney's office in what appeared to be a pre-arranged surrender. (Reuters) |
( 05-31-2002 ) - Jury selection is now over and David Westerfield's murder trial is slated to start next Tuesday. Twelve jurors were seated Thursday, with six alternates selected this morning.
The jury selection concluded was with the seating of five women and a man as alternate jurors.
As with everything in this trail, the selection of the six alternate jurors moved along at a rapid pace. Their job is to sit in the courtroom and listen to the whole trial and standby in case any member of the jury panel cannot fulfill their duty.
Superior Court Judge William Mudd has scheduled opening statements for 10 a.m. Tuesday.
At least 10 jurors said they favor the death penalty where appropriate. Several have served on juries before.
The jury was selected in less than three days, despite speculation that it could take weeks.
Mudd ruled today that the victim's parents, Brenda and Damon van Dam, must stay out of the courtroom until they are called to testify. He also said he was adhering to a common rule to exclude witnesses from the courtroom until their testimony was complete.
More pretrial motions are scheduled to be heard Monday morning, including one behind closed doors.
Overflow media will be housed in a courtroom next door to Mudd's department. Ten seats have been set aside for reporters in the actual courtroom.
Before jury selection began, Mudd ruled that jurors will hear only limited information on the "swinging" lifestyle of Brenda and Damon van Dam.
The jury also will be allowed to view certain pornographic images, including photographs of naked children that investigators say they found on Westerfield's computer.
Jurors also will hear statements the defendant made to police the day he became a suspect.