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.

[Rheo]

Do we know what kind of dog DW used to have?..was the dog bed in the storage compartment tested for dog hairs?

And.....where is the VD dog bed and what fabric/color was it???

[Eva]

DW could have picked up dog hair from Brenda'a clothing, that night at the bar and carried home with him on his own clothing.

[Jaded]

There are many of us, because Prosecution failed to prove anything beyond Danielle was in the RV at some point.

One of the myriad problems, is the dogs. If Danielle had been held captive in the RV all weekend as Dusek is leading us to believe, the dogs would have gone nuts. They did not. They were even led on a leash where they hit. That is not SOP.

The parents are holding out in a major way. Obstructing justice when that is what they should be seeking. Couple this with their behavior and you are left with more doubts.

The most important doubt, is how did he get in and get her out of the house? Stealth Ninja Dave? We don't seem to have this anwser, just unidentified fingerprints on points of entry/exit.

[spectre]

I'll bump your remarks, Doc.

Good to see you!

sw

[MizSterious]

Do you mean this thread? You didn't list the whole name, but this is the first one that turned up on my search:

U.N. Sex Book Encourages Pedophilia and Bestiality

Even mentions beast-ee-ality. ;)

[Jaded]

Hiya Doc!!! Good to see ya!!

[MizSterious]

"these two know something much more sinister, much darker than we could ever imagine."

I think you are absolutely right. And Damon, remember, is the one person who has no alibi for 4 hours that night--except the one he made up for himself. In interviews, from the very first, both parents have spoken of Danielle in the past-tense. They knew she wouldn't be "coming home." Evil personified.

[spectre]

NO..there's also one where Pedophilla is spelled wrong.

BEAST-t=ALITY! YIKES! Dear Lord, DW didn't do anything to Layla did he? I'll hunt him down and hurt him real bad!

Do we need a "Beastiality Disclaimer" too?

sw

[Rheo]

I don't recall that Danielle's necklace was printed or those results testified to..do you recall if that happened

[MizSterious]

They zeroed in on Westerfield within the first 13 1/2 hours--reading the testimony in the PH and the trial proves that. According to sworn motions, it appears to be Brenda herself who pointed a finger at him--and shortly thereafter hired a civil suit attorney. Hmmm....

[MizSterious]

We don't know yet what kind of dog DW had, but I suspect that's precisely why they are trying to get the dog dna testimony in. But so far, their other experts have mostly fizzled in trying to connect DW with Danielle. Only the blood seems valid. The rest is "a lot like" or "similar to."

[nycgal]

To my eyes, the necklace appeared to be "lacy", lots of openwork, not a lot of surface that could be printed. I would think that any partials they got from it would be extremely small. Does anyone know how large a partial has to be before it can be compared?

[Space Wrangler]

Hmmmm is right. I didn't know that BVD had pointed him out. I did find it strange that BVD had asked to come inside and see the inside of his home, and seemed to have at least a cordial relationship with DW, but then described him or his actions as creepy the night of the abduction. It would also appear that DW was at least feeling the effects of alcohol that night if he wasn't outright drunk, which leads me to believe that his alleged abduction of Danielle would have left a literal swath of evidence if in fact he had done it. Many things just do not compute in this case.

[MizSterious]

Oh, it's worse. She smiled at him in the courtroom at the PH, and those present said she also waved. At the PH, she referred to him as "Dave." Once or twice at the trial she did the same. Odd way to address someone you believe killed your daughter?

[demsux]

19 Q. WAS THERE AN INCIDENT WHERE SHE GOT INTO SOMETHING 20 WITH THE DOG? 21 A. SHE WAS ROUGHHOUSING WITH LAYLA AND LAYLA JUMPED UP 22 ON HER BACK AND SCRATCHED HER. 23 Q. WHEN WAS THAT IN RELATION TO THE EVENTS YOU'VE 24 DESCRIBED? 25 A. I BELIEVE IT WAS ON WEDNESDAY BEFORE SHE WAS TAKEN

Here's the blood evidence...IF DW can place his MH in the neighborhood the week prior to her disappearance, the prosecution's case is kaput.

[Rheo]

I think just as important as what trace was found...is what trace wasn't found.

DW's DNA was excluded as being under her fingernails...Danielle's was not in the scratches on his arm.

If she was kept in the MH, why only 1 print found?..he didn't wipe down as they found many unidentifable prints...nor did they even print that horizonatal cabinet over the bed..right next to where they did find a print??

Were all of Neil's friends dogs tested to see if any of them were matches for dog hair?

If he raped and killed her..why was no trace of her found in the shower drain?..did he not shower afterwards?

Why were no carpet fibers from DW's house found in the VD house?..or VD fibers found on his shoes?

And the list goes on.(correct me if I mis-stated)

[Space Wrangler]

Oh, it's worse. She smiled at him in the courtroom at the PH, and those present said she also waved. At the PH, she referred to him as "Dave."

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?! You're kidding me?!?! Is San Diego LE asleep at the wheel or something? She smiled and waved at the person that allegedly killed her daughter?? What in the h&ll is going on here????

[Rheo]

Here's the blood evidence...IF DW can place his MH in the neighborhood the week prior to her disappearance, the prosecution's case is kaput.

Or place that jacket in the house on cookie day...not sure how.

How many other times in the past did she get scratched by Layla and bleed?

[spectre]

Yes, and remember Brenda got very indignant when she explained the long scratch didn't "bleed". BUT Feldman asked her in the Prelim (I believe) if there was any blood on her shirt from the scratch. Brenda said "no"...

We haven't heard the last of the scratch, IMO.

sw

[MizSterious]

Oh, do you mean this one?

Paedophiles held in global raids?

But...no beast-ee-ality, so it might disappoint some.

;)