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".

[theirjustdue]

"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

I wasn't questioning the actions at the VD house, just pointing out that prints aren't always left behind. Both Barb and Denise were at the VD house on many occasions, in the garage and upstairs as well, including the Friday before.

In regards to the MH, it is not concievable that DW selectively wiped his prints (which he had no reason to do) and left the prints of several others, so IMO, the same annomaly likely could apply to the MH as the VD house.

I would find it rather bizarre and highly unlikely that DW could do a wipe down of his MH and only manage to get his own prints. JMO

[cyncooper]

Does anyone have an idea of what the prosecution will say caused blood to be shed?

I am GUESSING that the teeth that were pushed out due to possible gagging? The area of blood on the jacket would match where her mouth would touch if he carried her upright, as one does a child. (emphasis on just a guess)

[Rheo]

You're right...do you know which stain matches exhibit #?

[Jrabbit]

I don't know where they're going. It seems that they may be saying that something was done to her in her room. I thought maybe smothered her with beanbag chair. But she had to be alive in MH for fingerprint.

[Rheo]

I want to know why only 1 of the 3 stairway stains that tested presumtively for blood, was tested to determine human or non human.

[spectre]

Well, if you are sure the stuff in Danielle's room tested positively for blood, then it has to be from her nose-bleeds, or other cuts, since DW was never in the house.

sw

[mommya]

I guess Feldman is showing that the jacket was not photographed in its original condition - it was photographed after the small cuts for testing were done - and that a ruler was directly placed on the fabric of the jacket - a no no??
I hope Feldman isn't going for "planting" - where would they have gotten any of Danielle's blood?
How come the cleaners didn't see a 1 3/16" blood stain on the front of that jacket??

[Rheo]

Sean tested over 97 items.....tested items from recovery scene also...(selective # of leaves, were examined by another criminilist first, Sean recovered from evidence....tested neg for semen..(12 leaves)

[let freedom sing]

d-1= 3mm near zipper

3/16" d-2= 4cm near rt. shoulder 1+?"

my best recollection-- I didn't hear other stains mentioned

[Rheo]

tested swabs and clothing to determine semen......negative for components of semen.....all items tested neg for semen......multicolored blanket of Danielles was neg for semen

[Rheo]

tape lifts on comforter...left some, took some.....visual observation for hairs...made determination that some would remain when packaged......to say how many hairs off each item would take too long....Feldman says we'll do later...no idea on how many fibers...same answer by Feldman

[Rheo]

presumptive test for bloodstains...chemical...chara cterized by strong, med, weak......within 15 second reaction is postive..16-20 is weak...med is arbitrary

[Donzerly lights]

Dear Jim,

Please consider all the many pleas of your FReepers and opt to right a wrong concerning the banishment of MizSterious from these threads forever. She has never even had a time-out and we all believe that in the heat of the moment, an overreaction happened. She is a vital member of our Forum, and has been dedicated to Free Republic since 1998.

I am making this final plea for a just cause, and will be quiet and rest my case from now on. Thank you for listening. Spectre's wife

I would like to associate myself with those remarks - as our congress critters like to say.

[Rheo]

consistant with other criminilists....mattress pad 3 stains gave weak/positive results for blood

[cyncooper]

Off topic but I wanted to mention that Court TV, in their "news of the day" headlines, talked about the report today that the govt had info that terrorists were planning an imminent attack on US soil shortly before the OK bombing. I was encouraged to hear it on Court TV----wouldn't you think other major media would be talking about it, too? Maybe that whole story will get more scrutiny, including the current discussion about John Doe #2.

Back to the trial...

[Rheo]

missed..they broke in for news special......weak/positive on multicolor blanket

[Rheo]

pillow cases w/multi colored...cream colored comforter...striped comforter...(DW's)....neg for semen

[mommya]

weak pos. for whose mattress pad?

[Rheo]

no idea how long blood was on jacket or where jacket was prior to being rec'd..can't tell how it got there......Clarke...did you test every single space for semen on items...no...

[Rheo]

First time I've heard of mattress pad blood...by Feldman