Defense could pin hopes on insect life..Westerfield Trial Breaking News: BUG EVIDENCE QUESTIONS!!

Union Tribune ^ | July 10, 2002 | Kristen Green

[Spunky]

I had to leave again today. How did it go with the Bug evidence? Did it help the defendant or not? Also will court resume tomorrow or are they done now until the Judge's vacation is over?

Did you hear him tell the Jury this morning that there are a bunch of people out there who think they (the Jury) are idiots, because we think they won't be able to remember all that they have learned up until now and that the only thing they will remember is what is said last.

Hehehehe! I think the Judge is reading all the internet talk sites.

[UCANSEE2]

I just want someone to ask the bug guy - "Given the totality of the evidence you examined, and in your experienced expert opinion - when was her body placed at the recovery site?" Why can't it just be that simple?

He did ask, and got an answer.

[Henrietta]

What's PMI?

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Post mortem interval - time of death (essentially)

[gigi]

I agree.
Faulkner said there is no evidence to the exclusion of the body before the 16th.
In other words her body was protected from insects.

I can't believe her body laid there bug free until the 16th.

[the Deejay]

See my post # 95.

[fnord]

he stated definitively that it, in his professional opinion, the body had first been exposed to insects between the 16-18 of Feb.

The beetle info establishes the no-earlier-than date. The fly development also does this. Since only one generation of flies, he can determine where in their 23-24 day life cycle they are, and further pin down the date.

This guy is very well versed in using different bugs to more precisely pin down times. Quite a clever process.

But again, even after cross, re-direct and so on, stands by his professional opinion of 16-18 Feb for a dump date. In case you missed it.

[mommya]

So did Feldman say something to that effect? Did he get the 16th - 18th answer?

[Freedom2specul8]

He must be! This is very annoying...we're not getting enough info. (we the court of public opinion)

[connectthedots]

Re-crossexaminations are allowed so that the prosecutor can ask questioned related to the redirect examination. It keeps going back and forth until one side or the other has no further questions.

Feldman got in the last word and there was really nothing Dusek could come back with to discount the last question and answer. The jury will be thinking for the entire ten days that the insect expert could offer no possible explanation for why there wasn't any evidence of insect activity prior to Feb. 16-18.

The only reasonable conclusion one can reach is that whoever disposed of the body, it wasn't David Westerfield.

[Henrietta]

Gotcha. Thanks.

[John Jamieson]

It means that DW could not have done it alone, and any theory that has that as a basis is wrong.

[mommya]

Thank fnord - I needed that post.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Considering human nature as it is, I would guess that some of, if not all, the jurors are scratching their heads over the fact that it was LE that first hired Faulkner.

I think that is huge inasmuch as he does not help their case after his examination and study. His credibility should be sky high.

[Freedom2specul8]

Dusek did not mention the sheet did he?

[rolling_stone]

I found the bug guy credible and Dusek IMO was blowing smoke for too long and wasn't effective. Doubt is increasing IMO. Say when did Damon go to the desert, Do you have that news article handy?

I want to see a defense fiber expert point out that fibers on the bedsheets etc are not nylon, about transfer etc...then I can put a fork in it.

[RnMomof7]

Im just gonna summarize from now on, this is too hard.

For a wonderful educated man such as yourself all things are possible! I am in awe you must be God!

[Politicalmom]

No. He didn't mention a plastic mattress cover either....

[pyx]

...the flys were first generation. YES.

THIS, as I stated on the previous thread as Faulkner first took the stand, in my opinion, makes the earliest/latest window even smaller.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I can't believe her body laid there bug free until the 16th.

Exactly !!! Maybe a reasonable person could buy a couple of days discrepancy, but we are looking at two weeks after 2/1-2/2.