BREAKING: BRENDA VAN DAM DANCED WITH WESTERFIELD: (Modern Day Westside Story?)7-9-02 Trial Watch

KFMB ^ | July 9, 2002 | KFMB

[FresnoDA]

WITNESSES SAY BRENDA VAN DAM DANCED WITH DAVID WESTERFIELD

(07-08-2002) - Three defense witnesses testified Monday that Brenda van Dam and David Westerfield, the man accused of murdering 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, danced together the night before the girl was discovered missing.

"Mr. Westerfield and Mrs. van Dam were dancing," said Patricia LePage, describing the scene at Dad's Cafe and Steakhouse the night of Feb. 1.

Since the prosecution introduced hair and fibers found at the defendant's house and motorhome, the defense has tried to show the evidence could have been transferred in some other way, such as dancing.

The 50-year-old defendant would face the death penalty if convicted of kidnapping and killing Danielle van Dam, who lived two houses away in Sabre Springs. He is also charged with misdemeanor possession of child pornography.

In testimony near the beginning of the trial, Brenda van Dam told the court she did not dance with Westerfield.

But LePage said van Dam rubbed her hips and chest against Westerfield during several dances together, recalling the movie "Dirty Dancing." That was just part of what LePage described as "frisky" behavior exhibited by van Dam that night.

LePage said she was in a smoking lounge at Dad's with her daughter, Cherokee Youngs, when van Dam came in and struck up a conversation with the younger woman.

"Well, she did ask my daughter if she liked girls," LePage said when asked to describe the conversation. Van Dam, she said, asked Youngs if she wanted to come to her house for a party later that night.

Youngs testified about the encounter last week.

Duane Blake, a fisherman who said he goes to Dad's a couple times a week, said he caught a glimpse of the defendant dancing with van Dam.

Blake confirmed an interview with the District Attorney's Office, in which he described their dancing as, "huggy, huggy." He testified he even thought Westerfield might be trying to pick up on van Dam.

Earlier Monday, another woman testified she saw Westerfield dance with Danielle's mother.

Glennie Nasland, who began her testimony last week, said she was on the dance floor and saw the pair turn toward each other while dancing with other people.

Nasland, who described herself as a friend of Westerfield, said she watched them for 20 seconds before they turned away again.

In other testimony Monday, Dave Laspisa said that going to the desert to look for friends, and without bringing an all-terrain vehicle, was not an unusual activity for Westerfield.

The witness, a self-employed Poway man, said he's known the defendant for 15 years and has camped with him near the Imperial County community of Glamis for 10 years.

The witness was one of several people who testified as the defense began to move away from what happened at a Poway night spot the night before Danielle was discovered missing Feb. 2 to Westerfield's weekend wanderings.

Westerfield's attorney, Steven Feldman asked Laspisa to explain why someone would avoid Interstate 8 while taking a motorhome to the desert. Laspisa said high winds and black ice were common on that route, which traverses altitudes over 4,000 feet.

Heather Mack, a security guard at Coronado Cays, testified that she saw Westerfield drive his motorhome into the exclusive neighborhood in the afternoon or evening hours of Feb. 3.

Mack said Westerfield smiled and waved at her as he drove past her security kiosk, but she never saw him again.

The witness told Dusek that she originally told a police officer that she "vaguely remembered" seeing the defendant's recreational vehicle.

Glen Seebruch, an engineering manager at Nokia, testified earlier that Westerfield called him the morning of Feb. 1 and told him he planned to go to the desert that weekend.

Feldman, told Judge William Mudd that his case may be completed by the end of the week.

Insect expert David Faulkner is expected to testify about how long the victim's body may have been in the East County before volunteer searchers found it on Feb. 27.

Feldman has said Westerfield would have had no opportunity to dispose of the body because he was under constant police surveillance from Feb. 4 until his arrest Feb. 22.

[BigBobber]

Various theories by various freepers compiled and memorized over time. :)

danielle was molested ...and clearly had budding breasts which could be an indicator of molestation

Danielle had vaginal discharge. Sometimes an indication of molestation for a girl her age.

See for example: http://www.utoronto.ca/kids/vulvag.htm

[UCANSEE2]

...why no photos to go along with it...give it some, shall we say...spice?

You are the master at that. Not me.

[UCANSEE2]

Besides, I have the subtitle for your opening of new threads.

The name of the movie/book the VD's will write after this is over.

DAZE OF OUR LIES !

[juzcuz]

Hey Guy's:

Do you think that VD's are still swinging on weekends and doing the drug scene?
Since this case has gotten such local notariety, do you think their local 'club' swinger friends party with them?

You know what, I think that that they have lost a lot of their swinger friends.....I think the LE are still watching them and their drug friends.

Just Wondering??

[JudyB1938]

Kim is REALLY to be commended for all of that work. I am sure you and I are not the only ones who appreciate it.

[UCANSEE2]

Do you think that VD's are still swinging on weekends and doing the drug scene?

Last info I heard (rumor, no actual proof) was that they were at a State Fair in San Diego with their boys, having a good ole'time. Other Freepers reported hearing the same thing.

[Freedom2specul8]

Oh man do I have to put that... I forgot about it..I know you're right..

[Freedom2specul8]

Thanks a bunch..we are all "in this together"..and val and jj really got the ball rolling. Plus it seems like a logical thing to do after all these months..

[Freedom2specul8]

You're right, it needs to be added. I'll add it for the next thread..

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I worked in a bar for three years, and YES. They do

Aaaagghhh!!! I'm sorry, maybe it's just me, but Mommy and I are NOT going out together looking for guys!!!!

[juzcuz]

Could be true with them... What's that saying:

"Off with the old and on with the new."

[John Jamieson]

"They were not done before the police were finished" ........ looking for Westerfield!

They were far from done in finding the real perp.

[BigBobber]

I should have added -

DVD facial hair - gone!

Even DW didn't change his appearance like Damon did.

[JudyB1938]

I read somewhere that Westerfield was told to shave and get rid of the suit (substitute with a sweater). I thought that was so dumb. He shows respect for the Court by wearing a suit.

One thing's for sure. Shaving sure didn't erase the ugly off the Van Dam pervert.

[juzcuz]

I found this one the other day:

http://kidscape.org.uk/profess ionals/childabuse.shtml

It lists symptoms to watch out for....

For example: -The child wearing specific clothing cover
up marks..... (a necklace maybe????)
-Urinary problems/sleep problems
-Childs violent outbursts/behavior problems
-Running away

[UCANSEE2]

They were far from done in finding the real perp.

Well, have to agree with you there. You know what I meant. The other stuff on that list was done before police did ANY INVESTIGATING.

[truth_seeker]

Thank you for your kind words today, and I will look forward to your input tommorrow.

Here is my input: I wrote with private mail, to you FresnoDA and the Moderator, about a potential liability issue, concerning your posted photo of Denise, and YOUR caption suggesting bestiality.

YOU elected to take my private communication, and make it public. I did not.

The fact you are also now writing to Jim Robinson, indicates I was not alone, in questioning your practice, and recognizing the liability issue.

I don't take issue with your use of public domain photos, in general. I did take issue PRIVATELY, when I felt you opened FR to liability; which for me trumps your vicarious obsession, with swinging and the swingers.

In other words, while you obviously need the attention, FR is more important to me, and I was taking private steps to avoid trouble for FR.

I never threatened a lawsuit, and I am not a lawyer, although your misleading public posts might falsely have led readers to that conclusion. You also falsely labeled me as a "Van Dam apologist." I am waiting for the rest of the case.

For the (now public) record, I am reminded to avoid any attempt towards dealing with you, in private, responsible, communication, because you will blab, blab, blab...without quoting or accurately reflecting exactly WHAT I DID WRITE TO YOU Privately.

For me, that is the end of the matter, public or private. You do with it, as your judgement guides you.

[juzcuz]

correction:

http://www.Kidscape.org.uk/pro fessionals/childabuse.shtml

[Freedom2specul8]

see the following post:

http://www.freerepublic.com/fo cus/news/712921/posts?page=37# 37

[Freedom2specul8]

Sorry for double ping, a over 1/2 of you got cut off on the original ping. Please see following post..

http://www.freerepublic.com/fo cus/news/712921/posts?page=37# 37