Testimony costs flight attendant her job

SignOnSanDiego ^ | July 12, 2002 | Kristen Green

[MizSterious]

Testimony costs flight attendant her job

Airline fires witness for admitting pot use

By Kristen Green
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

July 12, 2002

Denise Kemal was fired June 28, more than two weeks after her nationally televised testimony, because the company has a zero-tolerance drug policy.

Losing her job has ruined her life, Kemal said yesterday. "I've always wanted to fly," she said. "It took me years to get my job."

She said she is appealing the dismissal because smoking marijuana "wasn't an everyday thing." While she waits for an answer, Kemal, 28 and recently divorced, watches the Westerfield trial from the couch of her new Florida apartment.

Kemal was called to the witness stand by the prosecution June 10. She was at the van Dam home Feb. 1, the night 7-year-old Danielle van Dam was last seen, and spent the evening with Brenda van Dam, the girl's mother.

The two had become friendly through their husbands, who both work at Qualcomm. A spokeswoman for Southwest confirmed that Kemal had been fired, but declined to elaborate. She said company policy states that the "illegal use of drugs, narcotics or controlled substances off duty and off company premises is not acceptable and may result in termination because it can affect on-the-job performance and the confidence of our customers in the company's ability to meet its responsibilities."

Kemal said she was just answering questions posed to her during Westerfield's trial because "I want to make sure he gets convicted."

"Because of him, it's just ruined everyone's lives," she said.

Kemal testified that she went out with her Tierrasanta neighbor Barbara Easton and Brenda van Dam to Dad's Cafe & Steakhouse in Poway two Fridays in a row, Jan. 25 and Feb. 1. They were celebrating Kemal's upcoming move to Baltimore, where she had been transferred for work.

The second night out, Feb. 1, she was introduced to Westerfield, whom she has described as "creepy." Westerfield is charged with kidnapping and murdering Danielle. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.

Kemal said the three women first celebrated her move Jan. 25. Kemal and Easton, who lived in the same apartment complex, shared a bottle of wine before driving to the van Dams, Kemal testified. She said she smoked some marijuana in the van Dams' garage before they left for the bar.

The next week, the three women decided to spend that Friday night partying at Dad's again after Damon van Dam canceled plans to go out of town and agreed to stay home with the couple's three children.

On Feb. 1, they smoked pot in the garage a second time, Kemal testified, and she and Easton shared a beer. Later in the evening, they partied at Dad's, where they ran into Westerfield. At one point in the night, they went to van Dam's sport utility vehicle to smoke marijuana again.

Kemal said her supervisors learned that she had smoked pot because customers mailed newspaper articles about her testimony.

She had never had problems at Southwest before the trial, she said. In fact, she regularly received letters of commendation from airline passengers since she was hired in November 1998.

Once, a Texas couple she had met on a flight sent a box of candy to her home. Kemal, in turn, shipped them a set of candles for their living room.

Kemal said that even after Sept. 11, she didn't have any reservations about flying.

"I did it because it's my job, and I love my job," she said. "I get to travel and meet different people. I like to serve the public."

[Karson]

My memory matches your memory. No one stated DW played pool, IIRC. Why do you ask?

[EllaMinnow]

Not yet.

[Rheo]

BVD in her 2 hour interview when they responded to the scene...told the officer that she and the gang were playing pool....the neighbor she knew as Dave..came up and played pool with them.

Then she tells of the cookie sale on Wednesday..and DW introducing himself..Hi, I'm David?

[rolling_stone]

I recall a part of an envelope was sticking up behind some books and it contained the cd /zip...must have been a long envelope? LOL..

[Rheo]

then she tells him that no one outside the family knew of the dance and that DVD was sad she was growing up, etc....implication that Danielle had to have told him when kidnapped.

So, did Danielle, in the midst of this rape and murder, tell him about this...and add that her dad was sad she was growing up so quickly??

[Rheo]

Must have been....behind books and binders on a shelf sure doesn't sound like in plain view.

[small_l_libertarian]

Behind the binders on the bookshelf inside an envelope is what I remember.

[Rheo]

I guess that's plain view...(scoff)

[the Deejay]

Mrs. Kravitz's ! I'm glad she doesn't live behind me! We now know, after hearing Susan L. testify, closing all the blinds & leaving outside lights on was the norm when DW was going away.

It only makes sense that if one has just abducted someone, they are going to have few lights on.

You're right, there were lights on all over the place, including the street light.

[small_l_libertarian]

Stealth Ninja Dave must have conveniently left his X-Ray vision glasses on the desk next to the bookshelf. Lucky cops.

[Rheo]

Then they say...cuz Hopi didn't alert at either place, that the 250 mile road trip, the wind blew away her scent.??

So, did he not have her that weekend or the winds were whipping high on the trip back from Dehesa on 2/4???

[dread78645]

Brenda will be so jealous, the only magazine that's approached her is JUGS.

Then there's the 'show yer old lady' section in EasyRiders.

[Rheo]

At least they were honest in here about Hopi not alerting at either place..per 180Frank

[the Deejay]

"So, did Danielle, in the midst of this rape and murder, tell him about this...and add that her dad was sad she was growing up so quickly??"

Could someone tell me WHY Brenda would make a statement like THAT!! To a male neighbor she really doesn't even know? I cannot imagine a logical thinking person doing that. I certainly wouldn't have said that.

[Rheo]

I'm sorry...that comment is mine...not BVD's

[hoosiermama]

Statement about playing pool in affidavits raises question.

[Rheo]

Why did the cookie day get changed?...BVD told the cop it was Wednesday....in testimony she is now certain it was Tuesday.

[the Deejay]

But didn't BVD say that to DW? That her daddy was sad she was growing up too quickly? It seems I heard that in the trial/prelim.

[hoosiermama]

In affidavit she denies saying it . In court she says she might have said it. Others testified that she DID say it...Significance: False statment used to gather information.

[Rheo]

Sure does.....Just an FYI...the 2nd affidavit listed above is a portion of the 1st....it's a repeat so far.