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]

Why did the cookie sale from a year ago, when she supposedly saw the plastic hanging from the kitchen due to the remodel, all of sudden just go away?

She wanted to see the results of the remodel when she went to his house that week.....so we don't just have Danielle in the house that cookie day but also from a year ago....how many other times and was the MH there then?

[spectre]

Oh well, "you can lead a horse to water"....:~)

sw

[Lucky]

The only main evidence they seem to have is that spot of blood on DW's jacket. It seems it must have gotten on there at some other time because supposedly Danielle was smothered. Right?

[MizSterious]

It's possible some of SD LE was assisting the van Dams. Certainly one Diane Halfman was: recently retired from the force, she was mentioned in a few newspaper articles helping the vDs deal with the police. Along with the high-dollar PR firm and the civil suit attorney...

So much that is 'wrong with this picture' but some don't see it. Can't figure it out for the life of me.

[Freedom2specul8]

Mornin JJ! "The logic that some people are using is this:"

Who, the prosecutor? That's not what I'm seeing. I see people went from evidence to a possible conclusion...

[Rheo]

I just found it odd that no mention of even trying to print it....probably right tho about not enough of it to print.

Don't recall that any of DW's DNA or trace was found in it....no goatee hair, saliva, etc.

[Jaded]

That would be Brenda & Co. Denise said he was creepy this from someone who is ditzy. The information to get the warrant was embellished based on information Brenda and Damon so conveniently gave. The again, Detective Parga was concerned about the grass yellowing in the dead of winter because of the hose. How sweet.

[Freedom2specul8]

LOL I'm cracking up cuz according to a minority, we can only discuss swinging,and the vd's but not the other charges...sad sad sad..

[MizSterious]

Rheo, not to mention arm hair--if he was holding her down, wouldn't some of his arm hair have gotten caught in the necklace? Certainly fibers did--why not arm hair? Had he shaved his arms? No, wait, we have pictures of the scratches. Those are very hairy arms.

See, I just have a real hard time with the prosecution's lack of solid evidence. A real hard time.

[demsux]

IMO, it is very telling that DW had two live-in girlfriends with daughters. Neither have come forward to accuse DW of ANY untoward behaviour with the children.

IF he had an interest in children, why not take advantage of those most easily accessible? Why break into someone's house, which you've never been in, to satisfy that urge. Why not just grab a kid from a playground?

[Rheo]

Suffication was the one thing he couldn't rule out.

Then the theory started that her teeth were knocked out causing the blood....even tho the expert dentist said it was common to see teeth missing in that state of decomposition.

[HoneyBoo]

Jaded, I guess that warrant was sealed. Any way to find out
what it said exactly? Or what dvd and bvd told police that
siccked them on to westerdude?

[Rheo]

Why would a PR firm suggest to a grieving mother that she have her nails done within 2 weeks of her daughters disappearance?..that sounds like bad advice.(pics of her at the arraignment show nicely done acrylic nails)

[Jaded]

She stated under oath that she wanted to see his knobs. Whatever. I don't think a 6' 2", 210lb drunk man could sneak in to an occupied home and abduct a child. Dont' much think a man in that condition could sneak up on a corpse. If Stealth Ninja Dave could do that, the should be working for the CIA.

[Jaded]

The speculation is that through their very good friend, former LE Diane Halfman, a directive was given to look at David and only David. They disregarded any evidence that pointed away from him. It's in the trial testimony.

[spectre]

What would be a real shocker, would be to find out that one of the live-in children at DW's house, actually TOOK Danielle into his MH for a little "open house" tour...

It's a possibility.

sw

[Space Wrangler]

Thanks for the clarification. I wonder exactly what Brenda and/or Damon told police to get them on DW's trail?

[MizSterious]

Pics of her just days after the arraignment show perfectly styled hair and manicured nails also. Brenda's to-do list: First the hair and nails, then practice on appearing "grieving"....

[MizSterious]

Honeyboo, I don't have the link handy, but go to www.signonsandiego and click on the Westerfield trial section. The available documents are there in mostly pdf format, although the trial and ph transcripts are text files.

[Jaded]

Actually, we are trying to discuss the other evidence and sworn testimony where there are gaping holes. One cannot sentence a man to death on porn alone. The porn charge is a MISDEMEANOR in California. The other evidence leads to more questions for which Dusek cannot or will not give answers. His all-star witnesses have been sorely lacking.

"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."