Damon Van Dam Takes Witness Stand: Day 2 of Westerfield Trial

KGTV 10 News-San Diego ^ | June 5, 2002 | KGTV

[spectre]

Yeah, it sort of goes with having a "drug dealer" as your best friend...lots of people going in and out. Hard to keep count.

sw

[Jaded]

Kimmie there were several versions of this. I posted one and got FLAMED by a number of my friends here. My source was a cop's wife. Check the thread from around March 22. Oh and as you remembered yesterday it had the binocular thing in it too.

[theirjustdue]

If a couple is this amoral, could they also be into incest and sexual child abuse? What about their drug dealing friends? any perverts there? How hard would it be to plant evidence in the RV? Are the other children in danger?

John, one of the impressions I came away with after hearing DVD, is not only was he lying and doing all he could to avoid answering questions, but even when the worst of the worst of the day, was finally revealed, I still got the very strong impression that there is much more being withheld.

I don't know the why and I can only imagine what it might be, but I hope after all witnesses have testified, that Feldman has DVD back on the stand as a hostile witness.

If it is proven that DW is guilty, I would like to see whatever it might be, that it appears - to me - is being suppressed, brought to light, before DW or, whoever takes that long walk.

[John Jamieson]

If, If, If. Depends on what "implied" means.

[BunnySlippers]

DNA of son very similar to father. No one looked very hard at son, who was known to be violent. More fun to get dad. And dad probably wanted it that way.

And how do you explain the cut on OJs right hand which dripped along the righthand side of Nicole's walkway? What about the her blood in OJ's SUV? What about the Bruno Magli shoes which he lied about? Why pursue a long shot when you have the killer identified? You're the kind of juror who won't convict unless the event was filmed ... even then it was mistaken identity.

[John Jamieson]

DW won't go down alone, if others involved. Why should he protect anyone? DW might be just the clean up man.

[Jaded]

Depends on when it was said. The judge has limited this. There was also the issue of the SDPD Psych writing a report to the effect that DW was near a break down because of round the clock interrogation. It's not the first time LE in SD County has used this tactic to obtain a confession. Wait until all the testimony is out there.

[Poohbah]

Depends on when it was said. The judge has limited this. There was also the issue of the SDPD Psych writing a report to the effect that DW was near a break down because of round the clock interrogation. It's not the first time LE in SD County has used this tactic to obtain a confession. Wait until all the testimony is out there.

Hmm. Westerfield could have turned off the interrogation at any time. He didn't. Why?

[theirjustdue]

"Fiber from her bedroom carpet in the motorhome.'

Actually, Dusek said fibers "similar" to what was in the VD home.

As I pointed out last night on the other thread, with the houses all being built alike, at the same time, it's even likely the carpets in the two homes were from the same lot.

[John Jamieson]

No I'm basically a hang 'em type.

I just recognise a very complex story for what it is. I also think many parents will take the wrap for what their kids really do, even if it means making themselves look more guilty. Other parents like the VDs, put their innocent kids at risk.

[BunnySlippers]

Uh.......I think it's a little too late for that. My guess is that their lifestyle is about all the jurors and observers remember about today's trial.

Well, if they haven't screened the jurors ... but hopefully the defense will not be allowed to hijack the trial and hammer on the parents. I have no problem in holding the parents to task for their lifestyle (which I do no t approve of) .... but this is a trial about whether Westerfield killed that young girl. It is entirely possible that the parents have a disgusting lifestyle, but their daughter was killed by someone UNRELATED to that lifestyle ... which I think happened in this case. I am confident that this judge will not allow the defense to turn this trial to a mockery (however I am not holding my breath).

[BunnySlippers]

Other parents like the VDs, put their innocent kids at risk.

Agreed.

[Poohbah]

What do you call a small taco?

A taquito.

What do you call a small burro?

A burrito.

What do you call a small judge? =:o)

[John Jamieson]

but their daughter was killed by someone UNRELATED to that lifestyle

Pretty strong statement for someone who hasn't heard all the evidence. Also unlikely to be true, even if it was Westerfield!

[John Jamieson]

Agreed here too, and I think it's so sad and unneccessary. People like this shouldn't even marry, much less have children.

[cyncooper]

We can assume that Damon made the story up, because he never put the child to bed or he would have closed the blinds.

Was there evidence the nightlight was not burned out? If the bulb was out his testimony rings true (personal experience). JMO.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

How can the lifestyle be avoided and still hold a fair trial? The activity and the actors were very entangled in the events that occurred in the van Dam home at the time Danielle disappeared.

Anyone who says they want to get to the bottom of the story and learn the full truth, but also wants the VDs to be left uninvestigated is not honestly interested in the truth.

How any sensible person can quickly eliminate the many possibilities that come to mind with this swapping/swinging clan is beyond me.

Logic should have some role in all of this analysis.

The police said it had to be someone familiar with the house and the dog. Hmmmmmmmm..........that counts out DW.

That's just the beginning. There are so many aspects of this case that make it much easier to believe that one of the van Dam's lowlife buddies or the VDs themselves could have done this.

I hope the jurors don't think like some of the people on these threads. It seems like once DW was accused, that sealed his guilt in their minds; so much so, that they are completely blinded to all the other garbage swirling around this family and this home.

[BunnySlippers]

Pretty strong statement for someone who hasn't heard all the evidence. Also unlikely to be true, even if it was Westerfield!

I don't agree. Like every single person in this forum (that includes you) I am expressing my own person "take on the trial". I am basing my opinions on the same news articles you are. In any "who dunnit" people will opine who may or may not have been the perp. I do not have the definative answer ... nor do you.

Westerfield according to his own account was not swinging or having a sexual relationship with either of the Van Dams. The Van Dams do not claim that Westerfield had a swinging relationship with them.

My statement says that Westerfield in all probablity killed Danielle even though they did not share a common swinging relationship. It sure looks like two unsavory couples living in close proximity.

Do you have information that the Van Dams and Westerfield were swinging together. I have yet to see ANYONE but you suggest this.

[BunnySlippers]

The police said it had to be someone familiar with the house and the dog. Hmmmmmmmm..........that counts out DW.

I think Westerfield was very familiar with the house and the dog. Westerfield lived in the neighborhood with a limited number of floor plans. Danielle had things on her bedroom door that indentified aa adolescent female. From what I remember Mom clued Westerfield into the alarm set up and the dog. I'd say he was familiar indeed.

[Politicalmom]

Bump for GOOD SENSE!!