Westerfield trial TV coverage lures viewers with lurid details

The San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | June 7, 2002 | Robert P. Laurence

[MizSterious]

Westerfield trial TV coverage lures viewers with lurid details

Remote Control

Robert P. Laurence

June 7, 2002

TV is about pictures, and the David Westerfield trial has not been a pretty picture.

Carried live on four local stations, and on cable's Court TV, the trial's pictures have been drawn in words, words like "sexual penetration" "putrefaction," "animal activity" and "decomposition" used in describing what might have happened to the body of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam before and after her death.

To many, the pictures, again drawn in words, of adults engaged in spouse-swapping, group sex and pot smoking have been nearly as repugnant.

But just as many are finding the whole spectacle of kidnapping, murder, kinky sexuality and everyday middle-class suburbanites pursuing a lifestyle usually associated with memories of hippies of the 1960s morbidly fascinating. (Some may be looking at the folks next door with new curiosity.)

Decisions of local TV stations have varied according to the expected newsworthiness of whatever witness has been on the stand. All carried the testimony of Damon and Brenda van Dam, Danielle's parents, Wednesday and yesterday.

KUSI/Channel 51 has been the most dedicated, carrying all the testimony live, and airing a nightly hour-long wrap-up of the day's activities at 9 p.m. For viewers who don't subscribe to cable, KUSI has been the only place to watch the entire trial.

KGTV/Channel 10 has aired most of the testimony in the first three days of the trial. The coverage airs sometimes on Channel 10, and always on KGTV's all-news cable outlet on Channel 15. KFMB/Channel 8 and KNSD/Channel 39 have been choosier, often skipping the testimony of technical experts.

Wednesday's ratings favored KGTV and KUSI, and Nielsen totals of how many people have been watching TV during the day were up as much as 12 percent compared to last week.

Some of the technical testimony has been the most gruesomely fascinating, including the descriptions of County Medical Examiner Dr. Brian Blackbourne of the condition of Danielle's body when it was found, and his listing of which body parts had been gnawed by animals and which had not. (Blessedly, the courtroom camera has eschewed close-ups of the pictures of the child's body. Those would be too ugly to bear.)

Just as fascinating in the context of the grisly scenario was Brenda van Dam's description of the now-painfully mundane routine of selling Girl Scout cookies, the route she and Danielle followed as they walked house to house through the neighborhood, and her statement that the home of defendant David Westerfield "was the last house we went to."

For those who have made up their mind that Westerfield is guilty, Court TV is the place to go. Anchors Nancy Grace and Sheila Stainback have all but declared themselves witnesses for the prosecution. Both have ridiculed potential defense arguments before they've been made in court, and Grace described Westerfield at one point as "looking pretty pasty right now."

Grace yesterday waxed long and righteously indignant because Damon van Dam wasn't allowed to stay in the courtroom while his wife testified, bemoaning that he wasn't being allowed "closure," but ignoring the fact that California courts don't allow witnesses to remain in court while other witnesses testify.

Local anchors have remained neutral and objective, but speculation has not been entirely absent. Lawyer Milt Silverman, analyst for KGTV, yesterday said he was wondering whether Westerfield had "figured out ways to defeat those locks" on the Van Dams' home.

Still, the most memorable pictures we've seen so far in the Westerfield trial were those of yesterday morning.

The first was the stricken look on Brenda van Dam's face when she was asked how many children she has, and her long pause as she deliberately decided to include Danielle: "Three."

The second was of Brenda van Dam, sobbing and daubing a tissue to her eyes as she listened to a tape of her first 911 call, and heard her own voice tell the operator, "My daughter's not in her bed this morning. She's only 7...

"Oh my God! ... I don't know where she could be."

[demsux]

I predict that the van Dams end up divorcing.

During the public hearing Feldman asked if BVD and DVD had considered divorce approximately one year earlier. There was an objection that was sustained.

Sounded like he knew they were "on the rocks" one year earlier.

[John Jamieson]

Did the cononer verify the body had been burned as reported earlier?

[DWSUWF]

"...Sounded like he knew they were "on the rocks" one year earlier..."

I hadn't heard that. (I can hear you guys saying, "Yeah... Right...")

Actually, it surprises me that they would have talked about divorcing and not followed through with it.

They may be tougher nuts to crack than most folks manage to be.

Still, losing their little girl like this... There's no come-back from something like this. They're toast.

[sbnsd]

Still, losing their little girl like this... There's no come-back from something like this. They're toast.

If neither had anything to do with her death, why wouldn't a family tragedy bring them closer together? I can see if either BLAMES the other that this could tear them apart. I had always thought that tragedies such as a death would bring people closer because they realize what they had, how much they really do love each other and their children, and to appreciate what's left even more.

[cubreporter]

A good personal opinion too. Marriage is the union of two people. My own personal opinion is if you truly love your spouse neither one of you would even want to consider being with other people. No respect for oneself or each other.

[Karson]

Actually, it surprises me that they would have talked about divorcing and not followed through with it.

I wonder if this is when they decided to have an "open marriage"?

I wouldn't be surprised if they are already separated but still living in the same house until the trial is over. (Of course, to me a couple are already separated when they live their kind of lifestyle. JMO)

[Karson]

Did the cononer verify the body had been burned as reported earlier?

No, her body was not burned.

[spectre]

Hey, we're not the only ones to notice the bias on Court TV.

We have learned there are just way too many people in this world who have no morals and by gosh, defend those who don't. Those anchors on CTV who are pitying the van Dams, shrugging their shoulders wondering what all the hype about "grown-up married couples group sex" is.. are the same ones who voted for Clinton. Figures.

sw

[MizSterious]

"My own personal opinion is if you truly love your spouse neither one of you would even want to consider being with other people. No respect for oneself or each other."

And then there are the vows. Something most of us don't take lightly, but for people like these, just a pesky formality, easy to get around. Your personal opinion is the same as mine. I wish it were shared by more people.

[Karson]

If neither had anything to do with her death, why wouldn't a family tragedy bring them closer together? I can see if either BLAMES the other that this could tear them apart. I had always thought that tragedies such as a death would bring people closer because they realize what they had, how much they really do love each other and their children, and to appreciate what's left even more.

I agree it should work that way but a large percentage of marriages don't survive a tragedy... especially one like this.

[Karson]

We have learned there are just way too many people in this world who have no morals and by gosh, defend those who don't. Those anchors on CTV who are pitying the van Dams, shrugging their shoulders wondering what all the hype about "grown-up married couples group sex" is.. are the same ones who voted for Clinton. Figures.

Bingo! Now, I know where Clinton got his votes from and I now know what is meant by the talk about all the "soccer moms" who voted for him.

[MizSterious]

And a bingo to you too--yes, as a matter of fact, during the impeachment, this little bimbo showed up on some of the shows to offer her "legal" commentary--which turned out to be "it's is private sex live, it's no one's business." We knew then, and even liberals know now, that it wasn't "just about sex," but also about national security. With the van Dams, it's not "just about sex," but also about the well-being of their children. Not that will register with some here, or on Court TV.

[spectre]

The van Dams were self centered, focused on their own needs and gratifications and put them above their childrens welfare..as it turned out.

All of this show-boating in the trial is meant to inflame the jury.

As a juror, I'd be sitting there wondering where the evidence is...linking David Westerfield to the crime? They know the child is dead. The more the prosecution tries to make the van Dams appear "normal" the worse it looks for them, IMO.

sw

[spectre]

Bump for your post.

sw

[Jaded]

It was a mutual lifestyle choice.

[NormsRevenge]

Just watching his dispassionate behaviour, he seems numb... nothing would surprise me at this point

[pinz-n-needlez]

Bump what you said.

[John Jamieson]

I didn't understand the lines about two freashly painted volkswagon bumbers just inside Westerfields front door, in the testimony I read last night? Was that the lawyer trying to trick the cop into admitting that he'd never been there, or what?

[curmudgeonII]

Perhaps we all ought to get off the subject of a married couple with kinky habits and back to the fact that a little girl was murdered.

[John Jamieson]

So well put!!!