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Testimony costs flight attendant her job
SignOnSanDiego ^ | July 12, 2002 | Kristen Green

Posted on 07/12/2002 7:06:01 AM PDT by 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."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: 180frank; danielle; denisekemal; kidnap; michaeldobbs; vandam; westerfield
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John Jamieson and Valpal1's comments

Combining your excellent posts...along w/some extra comments


Here's what I think the prosecution has proven "beyond a reasonable doubt":



1. What.. Homicide and kidnapping

2. Who - deceased victim Danielle Van Dam

3. When - Sometime between 2/1 and 2/17 (Exact date and time of death and date and time of dumping both unknown)

4. Where removed from her home-, and killed somewhere within the area between her home and body location on Dahesa Rd.

5. How - Exact cause of death unknown. More than likely suffocation, determined by elimination method Danielle van Dam is dead, her pajamas were removed and her nude body was illegally dumped off of Dehesa Road Person(s) who dumped her is also unknown, But a suspect was arrested and charged. Manner of death is also unknown, posion, drugs, stabbing, strangulation and bullet have been elminated. ME could not elimate suffocation.
Young girls don't just die, she's seven, not seventy-seven. Accidental suffocation of seven year olds generally involve appliances like refridgerators or accidental asphyxation by caught clothing. Course, it's highly unusual for children to disrobe for hide-n-seek or for corpses to shed clothing that strangled them, so nudity in an accidental suffocation is a red flag to investigators and most manuals will tell you in such cases to look for pornoghaphy and autoerotic paraphanalia. Although that would also be highly unusual behavior in a seven year old as well.

There is ample proof that she had no organic desease or defect (natural causes). Claims that she could have died by her own acts of misadventure do not explain the location of the body. Claims that her nude body was placed there to cover up an accidental death that no one caused lack basic logic.

Either the minimal forensic evidence in DW's home and RV was left there through prior casual contact (cookie sale) and transference or it didn't. But it most certainly did not get there by Danielle wandering over and accidently suffocating in the nude while no one was around


6. Why - Criminal intent or to prevent discovery of other crime (felony murder).
7. Defendant --David Westerfield, neighbor of Danielle.

8. Known previous contact--Danielle van Dam was once in David Westerfield's home to sell him girl scout cookies. Brenda and DW had spoken in a bar and grill called "Dads" on 2 separate occasions.. Stipulated by both sides.

9.Known evidence --Danielle's dog hair, her hair and blood found in motorhome. Blood from both Danielle and David Westerfield on DW's jacket. DW had scratches on his arm and possibly legs. Fibers with common source.. found on or near Danielle's body and David Westerfields home. Child pornography, both legal and illegal found in DW's home office. Danielle was found nude, with her necklace on. Various fibers, hairs vegetative growth located on and around her body.


Special Notes
various thoughts and suggestions by various freepers

21 posted on 07/12/2002 7:42:07 AM PDT by Freedom2specul8
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To: MizSterious
Knapp, she said, was paid between $50 to $100 a week to baby-sit her children for two hours a day, five days a week after school.

Latchkey kids: yet another opportunity for pedophiles.

22 posted on 07/12/2002 7:42:24 AM PDT by crypt2k
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
There is NO evidence DW was EVER in the van Dam's house.
23 posted on 07/12/2002 7:45:43 AM PDT by crypt2k
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To: MizSterious
I'm confused about the phone 'traps'. I remember reading that they had a 'trap' on the Van Dam's phone, did they have one on Westerfield's also?
24 posted on 07/12/2002 7:47:37 AM PDT by Krodg
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To: MizSterious
It looks like the bugs are invading again. Here.....choose your weapon:


25 posted on 07/12/2002 7:48:27 AM PDT by Southflanknorthpawsis
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To: crypt2k
A child was missing by force, that's evidence...and he's a member (or was) of mensa. I'm sure he figured out how to put on gloves and get rid of shoes..
26 posted on 07/12/2002 7:49:03 AM PDT by Freedom2specul8
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To: FR_addict
I am surprised she testified about the drug use -- she should have refused to testify on the grounds it would incriminate her. So why did she? Strange.

But in the spirit of this crazy prosecution and the freeping treatment of it, of course I have two theories:

  1. She was paid to testify rather than take the fifth.
  2. Drug use is so normal and everday to her, that she was blissfully ignorant of the ramifications of her testimony.

27 posted on 07/12/2002 7:50:21 AM PDT by bvw
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To: bvw
3. Everybody else does it!
28 posted on 07/12/2002 7:52:22 AM PDT by hoosiermama
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To: MizSterious
Awwwwww

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

It's all about ME !

This is typical of the hedionist crowd . No one is responsible for the results of their actions

Last I heard DW did not stick the joint in her mouth and hold her nose to force her to inhale

She knows the law, she knew the company policy and she chose to ignore it.

What is done in the dark will come to the light.

29 posted on 07/12/2002 7:52:48 AM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: bvw
This is way dvd was afraid to admit it..consequences..
30 posted on 07/12/2002 7:53:26 AM PDT by Freedom2specul8
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To: Krodg
I thought they had Westerfield's tapped--but not sure.
31 posted on 07/12/2002 7:54:36 AM PDT by MizSterious
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To: RnMomof7
"Last I heard DW did not stick the joint in her mouth and hold her nose to force her to inhale"

Well, I'm sure you'll find someone here who will insist he did. Not only that, but he held them at gunpoint and forced them to swing!

32 posted on 07/12/2002 7:57:10 AM PDT by MizSterious
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To: MizSterious
My understanding is his phones were tapped and his auto had a sensor attached.
33 posted on 07/12/2002 7:57:10 AM PDT by hoosiermama
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To: Southflanknorthpawsis
Dang, and I sprayed the thread with OFF before pinging everyone too. Maybe it's because they're not insects, but threadjackals? What sort of stuff do we need to fend of wildlife?
34 posted on 07/12/2002 7:58:06 AM PDT by MizSterious
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
A child was missing by force, that's evidence...and he's a member (or was) of mensa. I'm sure he figured out how to put on gloves and get rid of shoes..

How was he certain he could initiate a kidnapping: sucessfully enter the house, not raise alarm from the occupants, not get a hassle from the dog, locate and carry out a child without a fuss, not be seen while out on the sidewalk, etc., etc.

Why would a Mensan killer then not clean out his computer of incriminating porn, not discard clothing with potential blood stains, not clean out his sink traps, make comments about "good places to leave bodies", etc?

35 posted on 07/12/2002 7:59:59 AM PDT by crypt2k
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To: MizSterious
LOL........now we read that this is why Damon was afraid to admit it. Someone might get in trouble. Those pesky consequences for illegal behavior.

How odd that someone actually thinks any lying was justified when the only concern should have been for Danielle. Most people I know would not be worrying about themselves while trying to help police find their missing little girl.

36 posted on 07/12/2002 8:00:27 AM PDT by Southflanknorthpawsis
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To: bvw
Drug use is so normal and everday to her, that she was blissfully ignorant of the ramifications of her testimony.

When you live in a sewer you just assume everyone does..ask the rats

37 posted on 07/12/2002 8:01:21 AM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: crypt2k
Answer: he wouldn't. But don't even try to talk sense. They think they know he's guilty, and that's that. Don't bother them with evidence.
38 posted on 07/12/2002 8:01:47 AM PDT by MizSterious
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To: MizSterious; FresnoDA
...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...

Why would Duh Knees move from Poway with all her "friends" to Baltimore and then after losing her job move from Baltimore to Florida, which is Damon's old stomping grounds ? Why wouldn't she move back with Barbara E. and her "friends" in Poway ?
39 posted on 07/12/2002 8:02:17 AM PDT by pyx
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To: MizSterious
What sort of stuff do we need to fend of wildlife?

Good question. I'm not sure. Maybe some kind of ammonia solution. I hear it works with raccoons.

40 posted on 07/12/2002 8:02:49 AM PDT by Southflanknorthpawsis
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