Trial of David Westerfield: Experts Testify At Closed-door Sessions: (DEFENSE BEGINS!! 7-02-2002)

Union Trib ^ | July 2, 2002 | Union Trib

[FresnoDA]

Animal genetics experts testify at closed-door sessions

SIGNONSANDIEGO

July 1, 2002

Two experts on animal genetics testified today in a closed-door hearing to determine if the prosecution will be able to call one last witness in the David Westerfield trial before resting its case.

One of the witnesses seen entering the courtroom for the hearing outside the jury's presence was Oliver Ryder.

Ryder is an adjunct professor of biology at UCSD and works for the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species at the San Diego Zoo.

Joy Halverson, a canine DNA specialist with QuestGen Forensics in Davis, also testified.

A third man who took the stand declined to be identified.

Westerfield, 50, is charged with kidnapping, murder and misdemeanor possession of child pornography in the disappearance and killing of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam. The self-employed design engineer could get the death penalty if convicted of the felony charges.

Dogs have played crucial roles in the prosecution's case.

A volunteer handler testified last week that two search dogs alerted several times while sniffing in Westerfield's motorhome four days after the victim was reported missing.

Also, police evidence technicians say hair consistent with Danielle van Dam's dog was found in the defendant's laundry.

Superior Court Judge William Mudd is scheduled to announce his decision on the final prosecution witness when the trial resumes tomorrow morning. Mudd has told defense attorney Steven Feldman to be ready to call his first witness tomorrow. Feldman has indicated he should be able to conclude his case by July 15.

Feldman told the judge he plans to call insect expert David Faulkner to the stand to try to pinpoint the time of Danielle's death.

In his opening statement, Feldman said the child's nude body could have been placed off a road in Dehesa as late as Feb. 16, a dozen days after his client came under 24-hour surveillance by law enforcement.

Prosecutors theorize that Westerfield killed the Sabre Springs second-grader and dumped her body at the East County site shortly after she disappeared Feb. 2. Volunteer searchers found the girl's decomposing body off Dehasa Road on Feb. 27.

Westerfield was arrested Feb. 22.

[John Jamieson]

"pedophiles are utterly SICK"


I totally agree. I think the problem is that we have no proof of any kind that Westerfield is a pedofile. Porno doesn't cut it, there are many millions of men and some women out there with porno on their computers.

You can't work backwards. The logic that some people are using is this:

1. Westerfield killed Danielle.

2. Therefore, Westerfield is a pedophile.

3. Therfore, Westerfield has porno on his computer.

All birds are animals, but not animals are birds; sorry it doesn't fly.

[spectre]

Maybe you should try again, start a new thread where we can discuss the Trial today, SPAM free. Talk about beating a dead horse...this is so sophmoric...sigh. It's really a major problem.

sw

[MizSterious]

Well, it sure didn't take this thread long to go to heck in a handbasket, did it? I don't know why we're not allowed to hold an adult conversation about a trial without being flooded with all the porn spam. Someone who wouldn't know better might suspect a certain sickness in people who are as obsessed--or maybe more obsessed--with the topic than Westerfield is accused of being.

It's no wonder the Westerfield threads on FR are held in disdain among serious trial watchers and attorneys. And one suspects it's why the best conversations take place on the Refugee site. There are at least 54 Freepers (plus some non-Freepers) who have voted against what we see on this thread. That should be a wakeup call for someone, but I doubt if anyone hears it but us.

[spectre]

You are right, Miz.

It's pretty sad we can't discuss the trial without being taunted and baited about the perils of Pedophilia. I think we get the point by now.

Notice someone started a Pedophilia thread...now I think those who want to discuss that perversion, should retreat over there and post away. Wouldn't that be a delightful treat for the rest of us...who are looking forward to Defense's opening today...sigh.

sw

[FresnoDA]

We shall proceed with the thread, using it as we are able, and stepping over the ROAD KILL along the way.

We can also use the Refugee if things become a bit "out of control".....

Who knows Miz....may be time to Go-To-Duck...what do you think??

 

FresnoDA

[spectre]

Good idea, Fres. It's a good time of year to go to Camp...and those ducks, they are so cute...sw

[MizSterious]

Freepmail!

[Jaded]

As I see it, the problem is that some people who are convinced that David Westerfield is guilty cannot explain how. Therefore, they are reducted to beating this dead horse ad nauseaum when they have no answer to the MORE relevant question of murder. Mind, I'm not condoning the possession of child porn. Some folks refuse to see that having porn does not lead to murder any more than watching murder movies makes you a serial killer.

We don't know how he came in possession of it.
We don't even know if he looked at it.
We do know that all of it was not found on his compter.

I wonder do some of them work for the defense? Now that the case is winding down and we see how weak the evidence is, the spin gets harder and harded. Wonder are they dizzy yet? Do we need to purchase dramamine for our sheeple friends?

[Jaded]

Sorry I missed ya.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Yeah, what's up with the porn/pedophilia obsession? It really is odd and makes me wonder what some agendas really are.

I'd like to see a trial thread; not someone's personal fetish or thrill. Enough already !!!

[Jaded]

Kimmie, it's Tuesday have you had your Starbucks today? I'm locked and loaded!!! Quad cappucino!!! It's a beautiful morning too. I may even have another for lunch!!!

So, Kimmie, honey, consider this the warning shot heard around DW Threads in Freeperville.

[MizSterious]

Where are the tons and tons of kiddie porn in this case?

They arrested a school janitor in OKC last week on this charge and more. They not only found tons of kiddie porn on his computer--and I mean tons, not 85 "questionables." They also carted out--on moving dollies--stacks of boxes full of magazines, books, videos, and glossy photos of child porn. A dedicated child porn collector and pedophile should have tons of this material in his possession! They might hide it from their families, but they would have it. Where was Westerfield's collection?

Some of the videos starred the janitor with some of the children. It's my understanding that pedophiles like to be photographed doing whatever it is they do. They like to look at these photos and videos later. Was there anything like this in Westerfield's possession? If there were, I'm sure we would have heard about it. The media would have been all over it.
Something is very wrong with the picture the prosecution is trying to paint.

[shezza]

A dedicated child porn collector and pedophile should have tons of this material in his possession! They might hide it from their families, but they would have it. Where was Westerfield's collection?

It's with the plastic mattress cover, the bright orange long-fibered blood-soaked towels, the ice pick, and the flying carpet in his Storage Trunk of Invisibility. (Hidden under the cape of the same name.)

[Jaded]

There is something wrong with this picture. That's why we have the hard emotional spin. Notice it's only getting worse since prosecution has displayed their evidence.

[Jaded]

Come see the orange fiber... it will make you go hmmmmm. The invisibile cloak is there too. Caption this #2.

STEALTH NINJA DAVE

[shezza]

ROFL!!

[spectre]

Would it be helpful to run a standard child porn "Disclaimer", after one of our posts...you know, that way we don't have to keep saying "WE don't approve of Child porn...kiddie rape..etc"..

"The opinion expressed by the above poster in no way endorses or condones child pornography, in any way, shape or form. Any member of this forum who assumes otherwise, does so at their own risk."

sw

[Helen]

Notice someone started a Pedophilia thread...now I think those who want to discuss that perversion, should retreat over there and post away.

Needs to be repeated!

[FresnoDA]

Stealth....just looked at Caption #2...this is still my favorite....LOL

Go ahead, cry...but you WILL wear the high heels.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I like the disclaimer idea. It would surely make it clear, but do you think some people still might not get it? LOL !!!