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."

[small_l_libertarian]

Sorry, what does that mean? Can you explain, or was it just a blurb?

[hoosiermama]

"direct links" meaning what?

[truth_seeker]

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."

She deserves to be fired. She knew the company's policy, and disregarded it. Actions have consequences.

What about the employers of the VDs & other friends?

[calawah98]

That they have evidence that points the finger towards Brenda. RR was on also and said the defense was going in every direction but he was also wondering about the phone call Brenda got

[Rheo]

Do you know if the other pizza gang or the VD's also spoke to psychics for the police?

[the-gooroo]

Bravo! Very clever. The Diane Halfman line killed me.

[EllaMinnow]

It was a promo for Shepherd Smith interviewing Rick Roberts.
Nothing new, just how "Roseanne Barr on CracK" aka Cherokee's mother saw "dirty dancing."

[Jaded]

Did they elaborate?

[truth_seeker]

Drug use is so normal and everday to her, that she was blissfully ignorant of the ramifications of her testimony.

I'll bet she reasoned that since she was obliged to disclose it under these circumstances, that it wouldn't matter. OIOW, the company wouldn't enforce its policy. Surprise, Denise.

[cyncooper]

You seem a little defensive why? SOmeone in your family abused, murdered?

I had to step away from the computer and return to this message. Huh? I thought we we're corresponding in a friendly fashion. What's up with all the hollering and characterizations?

[VA Advogado]

ping to that ....we even have our own swinger...

A shameless one at that.

[calawah98]

Did you hear it also? It was on Shepard Smith.

[VA Advogado]

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

Can you imagine any better reason than to punish all the people involved in this tragedy? The parents and their 'friends' are just as evil and irresponsible as Westerfield. Immoral folks, druggies and swingers clearly have not problem placing the blame elsewhere.

[EllaMinnow]

Yeah. I saw it.
Nothing new, except we can now add Shepherd to the list of people who think Feldman's defense is laughable.

He said it - I'm merely quoting.

[cyncooper]

I don't believe you answered either of my questions with this reply.My questions were:

I did answer you two posts after this one you are responding to:

Posted by cyncooper to BARLF On News/Activism Jul 12 10:48 AM #248 of 352

As to accepting it as proof. I don't rely on that as proof at all. I think it can be a tool for police but don't really think of it as evidence (that is how I would handle it as a juror).

So, that answers one question.

As to if the dogs had hit in the room and MH? I would guess they would present it at trial as evidence.

[cyncooper]

Thank you for the links.

[BARLF]

I just wondered how you would handle that evidence had it been presented as evidence because I think I would have considered it proof that DW had been in Danielle's bedroom and Danielle in the MH.

Thanks for your replys. Enjoy sharing thoughts and ideas with everyone. Helps me understand where I am wrong about an idea that might dance thru my overburdened brain.......;))

[cyncooper]

My memory is there were several neighbors called. Some testified to not seeing MH and some did see it. They all testified to the times they saw or didn't see it. In other words, neighbor one drove by at 8:30 am and it wasn't there (ALL TIMES APPROX IN MY POST, just as an example) and neighbor two saw it at the house at 9:00 (approx). It is so the prosecution can establish when the MH was there and about what time it left the neighborhood independent of DW's statement to police I would guess.

Dusek will probably have some kind of chart at closing to illustrate it.

[cyncooper]

WHo was it that wanted to be pinged when they were found?

UCANSEE2

[FresnoDA]

Flight Attendant Fired After Testifying At Westerfield Trial

Witness Admitted Smoking Pot

 

POSTED: 6:42 a.m. PDT July 12, 2002

UPDATED: 10:01 a.m. PDT July 12, 2002

SAN DIEGO -- A woman who testified she smoked marijuana with the parents of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam in the trial of the man accused of killing the girl has been fired from her job as a flight attendant.

Denise Kemal (pictured, right), 28, says she was fired from her job with Southwest Airlines on June 28, two weeks after she took the stand in the trial of David Westerfield in San Diego. A spokeswoman for the Dallas-based airline says company policy states use of illegal drugs while off duty may result in termination.

Kemal laughs in court! 
Haaaa! Haaa!!  Haaa!!!

Kemal, who is now living in Florida, said losing her job has ruined her life.

 "I've always wanted to fly," she said. "It took me years to get my job."

 A spokeswoman for the Dallas-based airline confirmed that Kemal had been fired, but declined to elaborate. She said that company policy states the "illegal use of drugs, narcotics or controlled substances off duty and off company premises is not acceptable and may result in termination."

 Kemal said she felt obligated to testify against Westerfield.

 "I want to make sure he gets convicted," she said. "Because of him, it's just ruined everyone's lives."

 Supervisors at Southwest Airlines learned that she had smoked marijuana from customers who mailed in newspaper articles about her testimony, Kemal said.

 Her testimony centered on two evenings she spent with Brenda van Dam and another women at Dad's Cafe and Steakhouse, a nightspot in Poway. One of those evenings was Feb. 1, the night that Danielle is believed to have been abducted from her home. Kemal testified that she smoked marijuana in the van Dams' garage before leaving to go to Dad's.

 Westerfield could face the death penalty if he is convicted of kidnapping and murder. The trial is in recess until July 22 while the judge takes a previously scheduled vacation.