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".

[cyncooper]

The routine cleanup after camping may be explainable. How about Danielle's prints and blood and hair in the MH? I know the theory that she may have gotten in the MH at some remote time (Dec. or earlier it would have to be), but so far no evidence to show she was ever in it. That will have to wait for the defense case, so too early to conclude.

[Rheo]

lost feed again....lunchtime people must be signing on to view trial...happened yesterday at this time also.....if you are not a freeper...get off!!...:-)

[cyncooper]

By "ever in it." I meant "ever in it to play". She obviously was in it at some point.

[spectre]

They are trying to confuse the jury. Of course the DNA on the stain in Danielle's underpants matched the blood..it was used as a reference. But the underpants did NOT have Westerfield's DNA on it.

sw

[vacrn]

Break for lunch. Thanks for all the updates!

[Space Wrangler]

Yes, the DNA is something I can sink my teeth into. Now they are getting into areas that are black and white. The DNA on the jacket could be the clencher. There are still many, many un-answered questions. I know truth is often stranger than fiction, but how in the world did DW get into and out of that house, abduct the girl and hold her, and then dispose of her and leave only trace amounts of evidence? And if he was so good about covering his tracks, why not get rid of the jacket? Only time will tell I guess.

[mommya]

Now I want to know more about the jacket - where was it - did he wear it when he took her - when he killed her - ever? Why not ditch it? We don't even get to see a good photo of the stains - how could one miss a 1 3/36" bloodstain on the front of a green jacket? So far we havn't heard of DW wearing a jacket - he's the sweaty type - T-shirts. Have they said what size the jacket is - it's not a medium like the boxers is it?

[demsux]

Maybe, just maybe, DW is the clean-up man. But not for Barb, but for his son, Neal.

If Neal were to sneak in and grab Danielle, where would he take her? Certainly not to Dad's house. Ahh, the MH. Then transfer the body to his own car for the drive to Dehesa Rd.

Dad knows nothing about it, until evidence starts appearing. Doesn't know if son did it, maybe son even denied it to Dad.

All Dad can do is fight the charges.

[let freedom sing]

do you know which stain matches exhibit #?

jacket = exhibit 94 d

[mommya]

I have heard DW's son has an alibi - but have not heard what the alibi is - I'd love to know. Surely they printed him and compared it to that unknown on the railing - or did having an alibi mean they then ignored him?

[demsux]

have heard DW's son has an alibi - but have not heard what the alibi is - I'd love to know. Surely they printed him and compared it to that unknown on the railing - or did having an alibi mean they then ignored him?

Good question...I have no idea, but blood on his jacket (if it's his jacket) and in the MH is pretty damning. That is unless Feldman can prove (read: create reasonable doubt) that she had bled in the MH AND the jacket was there at the time.

[cyncooper]

he's the sweaty type

Well, the only testimony on excessive sweating or being underdressed when it is cool related to the time immediately following his return from his meandering trip.

I, too, would like to hear where he normally kept the jacket. I assume (I'm not a juror, so I will say what I think) he wore it at some point over the weekend. The girl at the drycleaners who took in the items was not the one who cleaned them. Is that who you are referring to when you say "miss" the stain? Back after lunch break....

[mommya]

To me - that's where Feldman's got to go - he's got to have a witness - the ex-girlfriend, his kids , a friend - that says DW never really wore that jacket much and that it was kept in the motorhome as a just-in-case type thing - then he needs someone to say that Danielle or just some other little nieghborhood kids were caught playing in the RV.

[demsux]

Yep, I agree completely.

[Rheo]

Does "tested positive" mean simply that the spot was some blood, or that it was identified by source?

My understanding of what she was saying is, it tested positive for blood..then the DNA test was done, which will only show human or primate (ruling out the dog) and then further showed as profiling Danielles blood match on jacket shoulder and MH carpet....and profiling lapel stain as consistant w/DW and not Danielle.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Of all the mysteries, there is one that puzzles me above all others. If DW did it, where did he keep her until Saturday morning and why was he crazy enough to risk that?

[truth_seeker]

I still think this case will turn on the hair in Danielle's right hand. If it is not DW's the jury will not convict.

What about DNA on curtains in cab of MH? Blood/DNA on DW leather jacket? Too many occurences of Danielle's body fluids near to Westerfield. That is the case; it doesn't rely solely one one spot.

[mommya]

About "missing" the stain - I'm thinking the folks at the dry cleaners and DW - how could he miss a stain that size - I was thinking maybe he didn't see the stains - and took the jacket to the cleaners not knowing they were there - or else he'd assume that the cleaners would see it too - that would be pretty risky - why not just ditch the (ugly) jacket - but if the stain was that big (and a reddish color - the total contrast to green) how come he didn't see it? It just seems strange to me.

[Rheo]

I think Feldman got sustained on the splatter issue as the witness is not an expert in that field.

[NatureGirl]

If Neal had taken Danielle to the MH that Friday night, I'm sure the guy at the storage place (Keith?) would have remembered someone showing up at his place.