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To: vacrn
Hi there! Tis good to see you... Can't wait to see how all the evidence will be used and to find out what was discovered that wasn't made public.. (ESPECIALLY the ace that dw's attny seems to have)
39 posted on 05/30/2002 3:36:12 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~

Westerfield Trial Scheduled To Start Tuesday

12 Jurors Chosen, Six Alternates Remain To Be Chosen

Posted: 2:25 p.m. PDT May 30, 2002
Updated: 3:00 p.m. PDT May 30, 2002
SAN DIEGO -- Opening statements in the David Westerfield murder trial are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Dept. 40 of the downtown courthouse in San Diego.

A jury of six men and six women (Hey, that would make a Sabre Swings Pizza Party wouldn't it??) was empanelled Thursday afternoon, and the process of selecting six alternates is continuing at this hour.

More than 30 prospective jurors returned to Judge William Mudd's courtroom Thursday afternoon as attorneys tried to select the 12 jurors and six alternates.

Once again, prosecutors and defense attorneys focused their queries on the death penalty.

"This is the most important part of the case ... it's true," defense attorney Steven Feldman told the first potential juror of the morning. "This is going to be an extraordinary life experience."

Westerfield, a 50-year-old Sabre Springs resident, is accused of kidnapping and killing neighbor Danielle van Dam and dumping the 7-year-old's body in East County.

Before jury selection began, Mudd ruled that jurors will hear only limited information on the "swinging" lifestyle of the victim's parents.

The jury also will be allowed to view certain pornographic images that investigators say they found on Westerfield's computer, and they will hear statements he made to police the day he became a suspect, the judge ruled.

On that topic, a prospective female juror said, "I think anybody who has that kind of stuff in their home is a sick person."

Prosecutors contend the computer images prove Westerfield's motive was to sexually molest the victim after he allegedly took her from her home the night of Feb. 1.  The victim's blood, hair and fingerprints were found in Westerfield's motor home, prosecutors said.

Westerfield, under police surveillance beginning Feb. 4, was arrested Feb. 22. He has insisted on a "speedy" trial as the law guarantees -- one within 60 days of his Superior Court arraignment.


40 posted on 05/30/2002 3:47:30 PM PDT by FresnoDA
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