BREAKING: BRENDA VAN DAM DANCED WITH WESTERFIELD: (Modern Day Westside Story?)7-9-02 Trial Watch

KFMB ^ | July 9, 2002 | KFMB

[FresnoDA]

WITNESSES SAY BRENDA VAN DAM DANCED WITH DAVID WESTERFIELD

(07-08-2002) - Three defense witnesses testified Monday that Brenda van Dam and David Westerfield, the man accused of murdering 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, danced together the night before the girl was discovered missing.

"Mr. Westerfield and Mrs. van Dam were dancing," said Patricia LePage, describing the scene at Dad's Cafe and Steakhouse the night of Feb. 1.

Since the prosecution introduced hair and fibers found at the defendant's house and motorhome, the defense has tried to show the evidence could have been transferred in some other way, such as dancing.

The 50-year-old defendant would face the death penalty if convicted of kidnapping and killing Danielle van Dam, who lived two houses away in Sabre Springs. He is also charged with misdemeanor possession of child pornography.

In testimony near the beginning of the trial, Brenda van Dam told the court she did not dance with Westerfield.

But LePage said van Dam rubbed her hips and chest against Westerfield during several dances together, recalling the movie "Dirty Dancing." That was just part of what LePage described as "frisky" behavior exhibited by van Dam that night.

LePage said she was in a smoking lounge at Dad's with her daughter, Cherokee Youngs, when van Dam came in and struck up a conversation with the younger woman.

"Well, she did ask my daughter if she liked girls," LePage said when asked to describe the conversation. Van Dam, she said, asked Youngs if she wanted to come to her house for a party later that night.

Youngs testified about the encounter last week.

Duane Blake, a fisherman who said he goes to Dad's a couple times a week, said he caught a glimpse of the defendant dancing with van Dam.

Blake confirmed an interview with the District Attorney's Office, in which he described their dancing as, "huggy, huggy." He testified he even thought Westerfield might be trying to pick up on van Dam.

Earlier Monday, another woman testified she saw Westerfield dance with Danielle's mother.

Glennie Nasland, who began her testimony last week, said she was on the dance floor and saw the pair turn toward each other while dancing with other people.

Nasland, who described herself as a friend of Westerfield, said she watched them for 20 seconds before they turned away again.

In other testimony Monday, Dave Laspisa said that going to the desert to look for friends, and without bringing an all-terrain vehicle, was not an unusual activity for Westerfield.

The witness, a self-employed Poway man, said he's known the defendant for 15 years and has camped with him near the Imperial County community of Glamis for 10 years.

The witness was one of several people who testified as the defense began to move away from what happened at a Poway night spot the night before Danielle was discovered missing Feb. 2 to Westerfield's weekend wanderings.

Westerfield's attorney, Steven Feldman asked Laspisa to explain why someone would avoid Interstate 8 while taking a motorhome to the desert. Laspisa said high winds and black ice were common on that route, which traverses altitudes over 4,000 feet.

Heather Mack, a security guard at Coronado Cays, testified that she saw Westerfield drive his motorhome into the exclusive neighborhood in the afternoon or evening hours of Feb. 3.

Mack said Westerfield smiled and waved at her as he drove past her security kiosk, but she never saw him again.

The witness told Dusek that she originally told a police officer that she "vaguely remembered" seeing the defendant's recreational vehicle.

Glen Seebruch, an engineering manager at Nokia, testified earlier that Westerfield called him the morning of Feb. 1 and told him he planned to go to the desert that weekend.

Feldman, told Judge William Mudd that his case may be completed by the end of the week.

Insect expert David Faulkner is expected to testify about how long the victim's body may have been in the East County before volunteer searchers found it on Feb. 27.

Feldman has said Westerfield would have had no opportunity to dispose of the body because he was under constant police surveillance from Feb. 4 until his arrest Feb. 22.

[It's me]

I was really really hoping that this jury was a balanced and in control. What'd they do, pass out the jury calls to local bars or what..fellow peers ya know.

Oh, I get it. If the jury doesn't come out with the verdict that you want, they will be incompetent. Are you laying the groundwork because you see Duseck's case falling apart? So then you will come back to this post and say, "See, I told you so! I told you they were incompetent!!"

You really are amazing.

[vacrn]

How about one of my all time favorites: Puff the Magic Damon.. er..Dragon?

I bet Fres could conjur up some fancy lyrics...you know, *frolicking* and all

[Green]

I could be wrong here but I think the grand jury can request certain questions and the prosecutor can decline to ask or answer the questions. I don't think they can directly pose their questions to witnesses but have to ask the prosecutor. Any lawyers out there that can answer this?

[GoRepGo]

I recently talked to someone that was on a grand jury and they stated that the jurors can ask questions directly to any witness.

[Freedom2specul8]

I don't recall if it was stated as being in a mall.

There is a video montage out there that may include a snippet of that video on one of the news page, but I can't remember which one it is.. sorry

[Rheo]

Court resumed in progress...MIchael Fisher on the stand...

[Area51]

Oh, but wait...I thought their pastor said they were "members" of their local church, not just regular visitors...MEMBERS. Remember that? About 2 days after Danielle went missing? Their pastor came up and said what wonderful people they were.

I wonder why the pastor isn't speaking up now? (sarcasm off!)

158 posted on 7/9/02 8:48 AM Pacific by ItsOurTimeNow

Maybe he has/had a mouth full of Pizza at the VDs!!!

[Rheo]

interviewed Denise....about DVD coming down stairs

[FresnoDA]

So.....Ms. Kemal is in Boston now???  Hmmmm.....brings a tune to mind....

Please Come to Boston

Written By D. Loggins
As Recorded By David Allan Coe

PLEASE COME TO BOSTON FOR THE SPRINGTIME
I’M STAYING HERE WITH SOME FRIENDS
AND THEY’VE GOT LOTS OF ROOM
YOU CAN SELL YOU PAINTINGS ON THE SIDEWALK
BY A CAFÉ WHERE I HOPE TO BE WORKING SOON
PLEASE COME TO BOSTON/
SHE SAID "NO, DAVID, YOU COME HOME TO ME"

CHORUS:
AND SHE SAID,
"HEY RAMBLING’ BOY WHY DON’T YOU SETTLE DOWN"
"BOSTON AIN’T YOUR KIND OF TOWN"
"THERE AIN’T NO GOLD AND THERE AIN’T NOBODY LIKE ME"
"I’M THE NUMBER ONE FAN OF THE MAN FROM TENNESSEE"

---

NEW VERSE and CHORUS....

Parody post!!! By FresnoDA

LETS, GO TO BOSTON FOR THE SUMMER
SAN DIEGO MEDIA'S JUST NOT FUN TO BE AROUND
BOSTON HAS A WHOLE NEW GROUP OF PEOPLE
YOU CAN SELL YOUR BOOKS ON THE SIDEWALK
BY A CAFÉ WHERE I WE SOON WILL SHOOT SOME POOL
PLEASE COME TO BOSTON/
BREN SAID "NO, DENISE, YOU COME HOME TO ME"

CHORUS:
AND THEY SAY,
"HEY SWINGIN’ GIRL, YOU REALLY GET AROUND"
"BOSTON AIN’T NO SWINGIN' TOWN"
"THERE AIN’T NO CLUBS AND THERE AIN’T NO JOBS FOR ME"
"I’M THE NUMBER ONE GIRL OF THE MAN, THE DEMON SEED"

[Rheo]

she told him Barb did not come down until it was time to leave

[Spunky]

Denise never saw David come down. Barbara never came down until time to leave. WOW!

[Rheo]

interview was 2 hours long....taped

[Rheo]

was attempting to discover suspects at time of interview...she provided names of people at the VD's that night...she was open.....she said she didn't see him come down and then another questioned her own memory if he did

[ItsOurTimeNow]

"Ummm, yeah high Judge Mudd. Long time listener, first time caller. I'd like to ask Damon where his van is nowadays, and why did he sell it? If I have time, I'd also like to ask the SPDP a question about their inept ability to investigate multiple angles in a kidnap/murder case like this. Thanks for taking my call, you're the best!"

[Rheo]

she told him Barb was up with Damon, smoking pot at the house and the bar

[Jaded]

Grand Juries get to ask the questions is the Great State of Texas.

[Mrs.Liberty]

You are cracking me up this morning.

[Freedom2specul8]

1. I had never heard of jury being allowed to ask the witnesss questions.

2. It's pretty obvious that if it was legal for them to do that...the judge would have entered that info record when explaining to the jury what will happen.

A bizzaro requestion led me to believe it was a naive question due to my #1 and since I dind't know they coudl do that, it seemed to be an uneducated question..nothing more nothing less. Now that we know the TRUTH...my #1 is no longer important and the post you refer to is thereby invalidated.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

lol...he had a mouthful of something alright...but it sure as heck wasn't pizza.

[Rheo]

Feldman....what is uncertain about her saying he did't come downstairs at all...subject to recall