Clarification: (I wish we could edit after it's posted)
IF the blood on the shoulder of his jacket was from her abdomen, it would make since since it appears she might have been slung over his shoulder..what if he ran out of the house and not crept quietly? (say the tv volume his the sound of running footsteps?)
Meaning if he ran quickly, the would have been less blood left behind? (just a thought)
sourcePutting it all togetherBy William F. Nimmo, Esq.
Edited By Jay Nault
The Prosecution brought out its strongest evidence yet today in the trial of David Westerfield. DNA evidence was introduced to the jury, and it showed that blood stains on the sport coat Westerfield had cleaned following the disappearance and blood on a carpet in Westerfield's RV matched the DNA of Danielle van Dam.
Perhaps the most powerful testimony behind this evidence was given by Annette Peer, a criminologist with the San Diego Police Department. In Peer's opinion, the potential for the person matching these samples being someone other than those at issue is numerically astronomical. In other words, the blood matches.
Other loose ends were dealt with as well. Prosecutors now believe they have an explanation as to why bleach was at the top of Westerfield's shopping list. Bleach will prevent the possibility of a DNA test, and the crime lab itself uses it regularly to avoid a fault blood test. They also believe that they have explained Westerfield's "hurry" to get to the dry cleaner on Monday morning before he went home.
The defense countered as best it could, with its best point being that there was no way it could be proven just how the blood got to the jacket in the first place. The defense is just that right now, playing defense against the prosecution's case.
However, the prosecution is bringing its case together in a way that the jury will understand. They have provided explanations, although not completely conclusive, as to what Westerfield was doing and why. Whether this will ultimately be enough will depend on the defense's case and what it presents.
There is still a long way to go, so stay tuned.