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".

[Karson]

I thought I had bookmarked the article about the new neighbors but I can't find it now. Theirjustdue and I discussed it a couple of times. Maybe he can point you to it.

[cyncooper]

I am a right handed person so when I pick up a child, I hold the child in my left arm. Is that typical?

I am right handed and most comfortable holding a child with my right arm, though I can do it with my left if I need my right for a task.

The blood on the jacket is a serious bit of evidence.

[cyncooper]

Wellll, this didn't come up in PH or trial by the VD's...why would that be?

Why would visiting their neighbors come up at the PH or trial? It is DW on trial, not a deconstruction of the van Dam's every movement.

[sbnsd]

It seems to me if I'm 'typical' in the way I would hold a child, it must have been a left handed person who held Danielle in his arms and got blood on the right shoulder on his jacket.

I'm right handed, but when I carry around a child, I'm often switching arms because they're heavy. I usually start off with holding them in my left arms because that leaves my right arm/hand available to do things.

[John Jamieson]

Aaaah, because it might show that the VDs are liers and they might be a better choice for the perp(s), than the poor man next door.

[Rheo]

Weren't they asked what they did that night...from DVD coming home from work..BVD pulling in w/the pizza after a day of shopping, etc......this is contact w/new neighbor and it was never mentioned.

DVD came home, ate pizza, she got ready, gang came over, got loaded, left....just curious as to why it was never mentioned in any rendering of their moves prior to her disappearance.

[Karson]

The blood on the jacket is a serious bit of evidence.

I cannot disagree with you on that.

[Karson]

I usually start off with holding them in my left arms because that leaves my right arm/hand available to do things.

Exactly. Thank you.

[cyncooper]

Weren't they asked what they did that night

True, they were. The original story may have been garbled by the media or the neighbor mis-remembered, or it really isn't considered significant by anybody. I didn't hear the defense ask about this-----or did they?

[cyncooper]

Ok, I'll bite. Why would they lie about visiting the neighbor?

[Karson]

Funny coincidence too that the new neighbor is also named Dave.

[Karson]

I would love to see a copy of that cookie order sheet and see where the new neighbor's name is on the list. I remember DW's name was on line 12 and Denise said she ordered cookies from Danielle on the night of 2/1 before they went to Dad's.

[cyncooper]

addendum to my reply to you: Perhaps the visit to the neighbor was before the shopping and return home for dinner? For instance, we didn't hear what time they arose Friday morning, what time the children went to school, got home, etc.

[Karson]

According to the news article, the VD family went over to meet the new neighbor Friday evening. It went on to say that Damon went back to their house the next morning to ask if Danielle might be in their house.... said she was a sleepwalker.

[Jrabbit]

Didn't another neighbor testify about buying cookies on a different day than the one day Brenda said she was selling. The neighbor also said both boys were with Brenda.

[cyncooper]

Yes, I've seen that article referenced. It's confusing because I also seem to have read that they weren't actually living in the house yet, just in the process of moving. I still see no significance to the case (yet).

[Rheo]

That is the same story I read also.

[sbnsd]

OH NO!! I just got a Linens n Things ad in my mail today, and there's even a netting 4-poster canopy-like curtainy thing on sale. Think I should BURN it?

[cyncooper]

I just got a Linens n Things ad

Don't burn it! There's a coupon on the back. I am going tomorrow to get the American Flag beach towel, though it says "quantities limited" and who knows if they'll still have them in stock. The coupon is for purchase over $15, though, so I'll have to shop for more than just the towel. ;-)

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

The blood on the jacket is a serious bit of evidence.

It surely is.

Again though, I am bothered by the fact that there was a negligence that affected its handling. Coincidence??? I suppose, but nonetheless disturbing. The polaroid instead of 35mm photographing was a big mistake. Now they apparently cannot tell the method by which it landed there.

This is a very critical piece of evidence. It should have been handled like a sensitive explosive. The criminologist was very careless and foolish if you ask me. I just hope that all mistakes are innocent.