WESTERFIELD TRIAL: Week Three - Day Four

San Diego Courtroom Trial | none

[NatureGirl]

Here's the new thread, all ready for Thursday.

Testimony recently discussed includes fingerprint evidence, as well as Westerfield's clean laundry. The Van Dam home was (strangely) devoid of fingerprints, except for a couple of latents that didn't match any of the pizza party people or, apparently, David Westerfield.

Westerfield's motorhome didn't contain any of his fingerprints, but did have one print from Danielle L. (the daughter of Westerfield's ex-girlfriend), Jennifer (a friend of Danielle L.), and a partial from Danielle Van Dam.

The prosecution said yesterday that they would be finished "in seven court days".

[bvw]

And both the pro and con in the case, are circumstantial evidence

And none is strong, it is all weak. Not even that Danielle was murdered or died otherwise. No "splatter" of blood and tissue, no culprit seen sneaking into her house. Only a *partial* print, a hair that is *similar* -- both of which may have appeared by normal circustance and not abduction or murder.

So far, nothing that says Westerfield should have even been brought for trial (misrepresntations in the PH, remember), much less hung for murder.

[jacquej]

I think I remember some testimony that there was a layer of dust in the motorhome. I suppose the layer of dust could have formed between the time DW wiped it down and LE checked it, but do not remember how long a time period elapsed between Monday am and the exam of the motorhome...

Assuming it was locked up, would dust have settles that quickly?

[Valpal1]

I think it is very possible the hair in her hand will be her own, that in struggling to push a suffocating hand or pillow away from her face her hair got tangled into it.

If nothing else, hair clutched in her hand is proof that she died struggling, proof that she was MURDERED. Not a covered up, accidental death.

[jacquej]

I hate to say this for fear of being flamed, but even if I were the Van Dams, I would be having doubts about his guilt at THIS point in the trial, and wondering if someone else could have done this, and then be scared to death for the rest of my family!

[FresnoDA]

HOW IRONIC, Or CRASS

Depends how you look at it...

MizSterious....BANNED BY MODERATORS from participating on any VD threads.....received this email today from Free Republic.

Talk about the Left not knowing what the Right is up to....

Here is a copy of an email Miz received today......

UNBELIEVABLE....

---

>Dear (MizSterious):: For historical purposes, I have held your position on the
>monthly list. You are number 35, which means you have been helping for
>many, many years. ( We now have about 425 on that list).
>
>We aren't running your card , but should you ever decide to re-up , I
>wanted to keep you in place.
>
>Thank you for all that help.
>
>
>Joe

---

Despite these facts, the Admin Mods have BANNED Miz from all future VD threads....for conducting a "stealth" flame war....

This injustice must be undone.

PLEASE PING Jim Rob and Admin Mod in support of MizSterious.

I will start it off!!!

P

I

N

G!!!!

MIZSTERIOUS

 

[theirjustdue]

A poster on another forum is reporting this...

"that ID's hair tangled in Danielle hand belongs to DW. Haven't heard this on San Diego stations, but did hear it twice this AM on LA station KTLA.

If that were the case, it would be solid (slam-dunk) proof that it was DW, IMO, but we have heard rumors like this before that have failed to materialize.

If true, I think it's odd that Dusek didn't make this the major point in his opening statement? It would be the most damning evidence we've heard in the case and even if that's all he had, would likely be enough to convict. I think I'll wait until I see and hear the evidence, if it exists, before getting too excited about another rumor.

[FresnoDA]

Post 164..No Flame Here...BTTT

[mommya]

About Danielle having ever been in the motorhome while it was parked on the street - do you think that the neighborhood children were ever really questioned about this? I mean I can see parents not wanting to involve thier kids in the specifics if this case - just enough for them to know that Danielle is gone. If they don't know specifics - and no one ever asked them specific questions - how would a kid of 7 or 8 know to volunteer that info to the appropriate adult? If I was a parent in that neighborhood - I would have asked my child to try to recall if anything like that ever ocurred - do you think that happened? Why doesn't the prosecution say "Ladies and gentlemen - the defense would have you believe that Danielle went into that RV to play on her own sometime before the time in question - but we have interviewed every person in that neighborhood- every child - including her brothers - and none of them has ever been in that RV and none of them has seen or heard about Danielle having ever been in there." Or likewise - why doesn't the defense state the opposite - that they have talked to all the children - and that some of them have been in the RV - or saw or heard of Danielle going in there.
IF Danielle was ever in the RV innocently playing or whatever - I doubt that she was alone - somebody else would have to know.

[Valpal1]

I believe there was sufficient time for dust to settle between the impound and the taking of latents. The fact that is was a thin layer tells you it had been recently wiped out, in and of itself. He'd been to the beach and the desert and back. Both pretty dusty trips, where's the road dust?

[theirjustdue]

There should be more prints than there are.

THe same applies to the VD home. Why no prints of the pizza gang?

[demsux]

You are going to need some strong DIRECT evidence that she was in the MH at some other time.

I still think the "dog scratch" incident at the park will come into play for the defense. IF she got scratched by the dog at the park AND DW put a band-aid on it for her, then this case is closed.

[Rheo]

The judge and attorneys had a closed meeting with one of the jurors this morning, per talking head on SanDiego.com

[FresnoDA]

FresnoDA Commentary Time

Just a thought VD trial freepers....

About the Danielle fingerprints in the Motorhome....

With regards to the VD's shall we say, "liberated lifestyle", would it be a reasonable leap to presume that permission was given to Westerfield to "have" Danielle, with one or both of the VD's permission?

Could this be a possibility?

Or....could the Feb. 2 date mean more to David Westerfield than previously thought.  And in fact, the VD's were simply an easy mark, with little or no home security because of their SWING SET LIFESTYLE?

Please file under things to ponder, or on the Jaded site, under W.T.F.

FDA/so

[Rheo]

Talking heads also said Danielle had her hair cut that day, the day she disappeared.....the haircut was 1/26, wasn't it?

[Valpal1]

Possibly because they told the truth? They really did sit around the table, eat the leftover pizza and leave. Tables get wiped up regularly, so there go the prints.

The fact is a large number of latents were obtained from the VD household, it wasn't abnormally empty of latents. I think the MH was abnormally empty of latents. JMO

[Rheo]

Sean Soriano..this is the guy who tested the jacket

[FresnoDA]

Johnston and Johnston is pleased to introduce our newest sponsor.....

"I was amazed at how well the stuff worked,

like, it made "everything" disappear. 

No smudges, or any evidence, uhm, I mean dirt was

visible to the naked eye!" "Hah!!"

[theirjustdue]

" The fact that is was a thin layer tells you it had been recently wiped out, in and of itself. He'd been to the beach and the desert and back. Both pretty dusty trips, where's the road dust?

First. What is a "thin layer"? It depends on who's defining it.

Second. Motor Homes are fairly tight these days. It was winter, very cold and not likely he had his windows and doors open, other than the relatively short period of time the TT driver had him adjusting his leveling pads.

[Rheo]

going over background, labeling, presumptive testing (test that includes blood but not limited to)

[Rheo]

supervisor requested he examine evidence in this case...only did exams in lab...did not go to any of the scenes.