Posted on 06/05/2002 11:36:24 PM PDT by FresnoDA
Last I heard it still was!
Actually, I was thinking of a case locally, where because the owner belonged to such-and-such a club he was broken into. I think in this van Dam case, wityh the high likelyhood of a sexual motive for the potential crime, that the sexual life of the parents is pertinant and necessary, not only in investigation and grand jury, but also in defense during trial.
the judges use their ''own'' words of wisdom to make their decisions..IMHO.
I'm way behing on the threads, but I thought I'd answere this question.
They live in a suburb of a large city. It is NEVER pitch black. The ambient background light of the city will be lighter that of the BR, and open blinds will provide enough light to relieve the inky blackness children so dislike when they go to bed.
I don't think that opening a blind, because the nightlight is burned out is unusual or suspicious at all. Nor would it be hard to check the bulb to see if it is indeed burned out. I don't see why this testimony is an issue, although I can see why LE would want to establish how the blind were opened to preclude the possiblility that Danielle opened them herself that morning.
It is possible that Danielle, awakened by the early morning light streaming through her opened blind, got up and went outside herself and was taken from the street. The initial reports that LE believed she was taken sometime between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. indicates they may have considered that a possiblity. I wonder what her brothers had to say about what time they got up and if they noticed Danielle was not in her room. That is one of the things I am waiting for at trial, did the boys (specifically the older one) have any useful information or where they oblivious, watching t.v.?
I hope the use "the law"...which has been highly influenced by church teachings over the years.
Quila, If this were a charge of cheating at cards, I would likely agree with your statement, but this is about a likely sex related crime, involving the murder of a 7 Y.O. girl.
The people that were in the VD household that night may have not technically been breaking any sex related laws. But, their (now admitted) lifestyle is clearly outside the norms and values of most American citizens, just as DW's collection, would fall outside those parameters. Therefore, it does not seem unreasonable to me, to question why they have not been given closer scrutiny than they have recieved, especially given the admitted withholding of information and conflicting testimony surroubnding them.
I don't care to know what individuals do in their bedroom, but, IMO, a vial and tragic murder has trumped the VD and comany's right to enjoy this privacy.
I think there is much yet to come out in this trial and you could well be right, that Feldman had not laid a foundation yet, to bring in that particular testimony. Whatever might exist, it may first take calling LE to testify that it was found, etc.
It is apparent that, as many of us had speculated, Judge Mudd has already let Feldman probe well beyond what some felt would be very tight parameters. As more is revealed he may decide that the scope should be widened even further, in the interest of justice.
IMO, it is very relevant, until whatever the VD's seem yet to be hiding is revealed.
A forensic dentist testified the teeth (of a child?-- they're not permanent) could loosen from decompostion-- and smothering.
Interesting article on Judge Mudd:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/20020403-9999_2m3mudd.html
Thanks-- I belive you inadvertently answered my "question."
BvD (in trial) did not know the ACTUAL cost of the GS cookies they sold.
The orders are taken and written on the girls' order sheet-- which was shown to BvD in trial. Unfortunately, Danielle did not live long enough to distribute her cookie orders, or collect the money and checks-- except for those donations, possibly. In trial, BvD did was not asked if DW wrote a check or paid cash, but she verified that DW ordered a box (for donation.)
Cookie delivery time, a parent pays close attention to the little details of accounting. For the vDs and their neighbors and friends, the old adage,-- "if you have to ask how much-- you can't afford it."
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