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I think this guy will be Feldmanized within the first five minutes of the cross-examination.

Q: Are you an entomologist.
A: No

Q: You mentioned that Indians preserved meat by slicing it thin and drying it out and thus preventing blow flies from laying eggs on it of feeding it. You also used this illustration to explain mummification. Is that correct?
A: Yes

Q: If Danielle's body had been mummified when is was disposed of, there wouldn't be blowfly larva, would there?
A: No

Q: You also made mention that bodies can become mummified in both cold and warm climates; isn't that correct?
A: Yes.

You also mentioned that the absence of moisture is important in the mummification process, especially in warm climates; correct?
A: Yes

Q: Where are most bodies that are mummified because of cold found?
A: witness will most likely state in areas that are very cold all the time where insect cannot get to the body due to the constant very cold temperatures or because the body is sealed off by snow or ice.

Q: Those were not the conditions anywhere in San Diego County in February of this year, were they?
A: No

Q: Isn't it true that bodies that are mummified in warm to very hot climates require the intervention of humans to preserve the bodies?
A: Yes

Q: Even if there was no animal or insect activity, or even the presence of bacteria, how long would it take a complete body to dry out; several weeks, at least?
A: Yes

Q: Was Danielles body sliced into thin strips and dried out?
A: No

Q: When you use the word mummification, that covers a wide range of body conditions, doesn't it?
A: Yes

Q: If Danielle's body could at all be considered to have been 'mummified', it would be fair to say that it was hardly mummified at all, wouldn't it?
A: Yes

Q: You've heard that there is evidence of animal activity related to Danielle's body, haven't you?
A: Yes

That animal activity would most likely epose flesh that had not previously been exposed, wouldn't it?
A: Yes

Q: That animal activity would also likely begin within a day, or at most two, wouldn't it?
A: Yes

Q: If Danielle's body had been left where it was found, wouldn't the flies and beetles virtually consume the entire body over a period of time, perhaps as in as few as an additional few weeks?
A: Yes

Q: When you right down to it, you really wouldn't describe her body was mummified at all, or would you?
A: No (he may try to tap dance a bit on this one. If he does, Feldman will be able to nail him on this point and make him look like he's trying to be evasive and not completely truthful.)

Q: When you get right down to it, you have no factual basis by which you can place the body at the site prior to the middle of February, do you?
A: No

It appears to me that the prosecution is trying to say that is was both cold enough and warm enough to mummify the body. Which is it? The insect activity inside the body would generate plenty of heat on its own, and it would seem that any mummification of the skin would act as a seal to help keep the cold out.

Feldman must be licking his chops and can't wait to start his cross-examination.

Dusek must know the only way he can possibly get a conviction is to place the body at Dehesa Rd no later than February 4. Problem is, it is impossible and this witness will only confirm this fact when Feldman conducts his cross-examination. When Feldman finishes with this 'mummification expert", Goff's testimony will be largely irrelevant for two reasons. First, he will confirm the testimony of the first two bug guys and will not be able to dispute the mummy guy and probably won't even attempt to do so.

"I think this guy will be Feldmanized within the first five minutes of the cross-examination."

So do I. He's been going on & on about bugs. He's not a bug expert. Just has general knowledge. And testing the temperature of the road 2 days ago. What was that for & about? February road temperature is much different than July, for heaven's sake.

He hasn't proven anything about time/date of death & a volume of other things.

Thanks for the informative testimony post!

THAT was a great read! You're very good.

sw

Good Take. I will skip the afternoon cross and take a nap instead.