(06-10-2002) - Another week of testimony in the David Westerfield trial starts this morning. Last week we heard from several key witnesses.
Brenda and Damon van Dam took the stand to describe the events leading up to their daughter's disappearance. The medical examiner in the case testified about the condition of Danielle's body when it was discovered in Dehesa. And a forensic dentist talked about Danielle's missing teeth, indicating she may have been smothered.
Brenda and Damon van Dam's testimony is now out of the way, but all we've heard about David Westerfield is that he was at a bar a couple of times and bought some Girl Scout cookies.
"If you had to vote right this minute, you can't take the opening statements into consideration, just on the evidence you've heard, you have to vote not guilty," said LOCAL 8 legal analyst, Bill Nimmo.
Attorney Bill Nimmo expects the trial to now focus on the four people Brenda van Dam brought home from the bar the night Danielle disappeared, including two women that have had sex with Damon van Dam.
The jury has heard about them and Nimmo expects all four of them to take the stand soon.
"I would want to bring those people on if I was the prosecutor and I would want to show their whereabouts through the whole night to totally eliminate them as a possibility, because when you eliminate those four, then who do you have?"
Nimmo says from there, Dusek can start building his case against Westerfield, probably ending with the DNA evidence.
As for the defense, Nimmo says he's waiting for Steven Feldman to back up his opening statement that he's going to scientifically prove his client couldn't have killed Danielle.
"I heard those words and I'm interested in seeing what that is because that sounded pretty powerful," said Nimmo.
Nimmo thought he'd see at least a glimpse of Feldman's hand when medical examiner, Dr. Brian Blackbourne took the stand, but so far, nothing. He now thinks that testimony will probably come from one of Feldman's own witnesses.
Sources tell LOCAL 8 News that the prosecution may call as many as 75 witnesses.
How she cannot grasp that anyone in that group on that evening, was morally vacant enough to have committed a transgression against Danielle, is beyond me.
She is making a case that what the VD's did in their PRIVATE sex life isn'tan issue, but "hey" what DW did in his,is?
You know, people...it is entirely possible that Damon smacked the hell out of the little girl for god knows only what, she died, and the cover-up began. Damon has a temper.
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