( 03-28-2002 ) - A Sabre Springs man accused of killing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam and leaving her body in the East County was arraigned Thursday on charges of murder, kidnapping and possession of child pornography.
David A. Westerfield, 50, pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
The judge has set a trial date of May 17, 2002.
After a three-day preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge H. Ronald Domnitz ruled back on March 14 that there was enough evidence for Westerfield to face the charges at trial.
Superior Court Judge Peter Deddeh may assign the case to another judge for all further hearings, including the trial.
Westerfield -- who lived two doors down and across the street from the van Dam family -- is currently held without bail.