Posted on 07/01/2002 5:50:00 PM PDT by FresnoDA
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.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.
"As for Danielle's friends, that remains to be seem, imo more likely for an adult to testify, but most neighbors will be hesitant to testify to anything helpful to DW...jmo."
Well, if their child was in the MH, I cannot imagine them wanting to keep it a secret..
I guess the best answer is that LE being criticized is nothing new. A smaller department in the county is different than a bigger city department.
Actually I think there is more criticism of the DA's office and Paul Pfingst, in particular. He does not have a great amount of support from the rank and file LEOs.
So, I guess officers like my son-in-law might feel that it is more lack of faith in the prosecution who rushed this case unnecessarily. I have a real hard time believing that the quick and exclusive fingering of Westerfield and the primary election timing was sheer coincidence.
Suffice to say, I'm not alone.
What kind of justice is it that rushes into an arrest and ignores much potentially important evidence that could lead to other suspects?
What kind of justice is it that destroys a man's life before guilt is proven?
What kind of justice is it that does both of the above because of the political concerns of the DA in whose lap the case has fallen?
A I DON'T KNOW WHAT MEN WEAR. JUST REGULAR MAYBE JOGGING SHORTS OF SOME KIND. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE, BUT I REMEMBER THEY WERE VERY THIN, LIKE BOXER SHORTS. THE MATERIAL WAS VERY THIN. Where does it say undies? Just regular (maybe jogging) shorts. What do joggers and boxers wear? How about a swimsuit? I hope the jury is alert, I would hate to see them make the same biased leap of testimony.
If the police viewed him as the strongest suspect, what should they have done to prevent his life from being destroyed prior to the outcome of the trial? Also, no one is accusing the police of fouling this case up on purpose to destroy psfingst, correct?
If the theory is the LE has it in for the DA...How can the police dept be so incompetant and persecuted (per comments of trial watchers and the defense), and biased against the prosecutor..and yet be smart enough to have an orchestrated conspiritorial effort to help the DA lose the election..
I meant to leave it at my canine post and it's best that way.
I only hope that you never serve on a jury; especially when a person's life is at stake.
LIKE BOXER SHORTS
They were NOT referring to shorts that boxers wear..
http://www.uglies.com/
Uglies boxer shorts, where your undies will never be the same..
Kim, lets please be accurate. There are many garments, including swimsuits, that resemble boxer shorts and there is no proof he was wearing his underwear.
If he had been, prosecution would have no doubt tacked indecent exposure onto the myriad of charges brought against him. /sarcasm
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