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

Union Tribune ^ | July 10, 2002 | Kristen Green

[connectthedots]

Dusek is digging a hole for himself. The jury must be wondering why they are being put through this torture. Feldman made his point that the lack of beetle larva establishes that DW could not have disposed of the body and Dusek is merely asking speculative questions regarding the time-frame for the disposal of Danielle's body.

Feldman will ask one question that will seal the deal, "Mr. Faulkner, have you ever examined a body and not detected beetle larva withing 21 days?" The answer will be "No" and that is all the jury will need to hear.

[the Deejay]

"THE BUGS DON'T LIE!"

Unlike a good deal of the prosecution witnesses have done.
(Just an observation.)

[UCANSEE2]

Going over weather factors. What weather info source did he use. Did he use it to adjust factors, did he use minute by minute updates, etc.

Did hot/cold change calculation? YES.

HUmidity affect fly activity? Very little is known if that affects them.

Asked same question different way. Getting same answer.

Asking if rainfall affects flys.

YES. Rain would affect emergence of pupae.

Lack of rain would affect. They wait to emerge. Until it is suitable.

Rain, food, even light/lack of .

IS DUSEK STALLING? How's the weather?????????????

Going back to the Civil War now.

[Freedom2specul8]

We do NOT haven an answer as to
1. why there was no fluid/rot underneath the body...there usually is. This is why there was less odor AND bugs.
2. why was the body mummified? Dry air?
3. No rainfall can delay insect activity on the body...the bugs will sit in the dirt and wait until rain or change in light/dark cycle or rain.

[UCANSEE2]

Lack of rainfall played a factor? Could skew factors.

Based on weather data, could that impact effect on body. YES.

Showing CALENDAR now that bug guy filled out during break.

Someone else take over. I havtopee.

[Politicalmom]

HOLD IT!! You are on duty!!! : )

[the Deejay]

"I am now convinced of two things.

1. DW did not place the body.

2. Some people can spin anything."


PLUS, it appears the body had been fridged or frozen and then dumped.

[Freedom2specul8]

Maybe he's trying to prove there were LESS insects cuz of the mummificaton, no rainfall and what few insects were there were being victimized/eaten by some flies.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Feldman will ask one question that will seal the deal, "Mr. Faulkner, have you ever examined a body and not detected beetle larva withing 21 days?" The answer will be "No" and that is all the jury will need to hear.

I agree completely. Dusek is struggling too hard and he's drawing nothing that won't be wiped out on redirect.

He better shut up soon and allow redirect before court ends today. If he drags it out, the jury will likely see through it.

He is one of the worst prosecutors I have ever watched.

[Henrietta]

No, just watching the threads..I'm relying on youse guys to 'splain it all to me! :~)

[gigi]

I think Feldman knows Dusek is going on too long, maybe annoying the jury, so he has been short and to the point with his witnesses. Good stratigizing!!

[Politicalmom]

Mummification can be sped up by low humidity, wind...

Highest temps pointed out on chart.

Lows were higher than normal.

[Freedom2specul8]

DOES THE BEETLE problem have to do with the fact they were sitting in the dirt WAITING for the right conditions?

[Politicalmom]

I think he is trying to drag this out, so Feldman doesn't get to re-direct before the break.

[mommya]

I would just love to hear an honest plain spoken opinion of this witness of when the body was left there - I'm thinking he'd stick with the 16th - 18th.

[gigi]

Note to Dusek -
You can't make chicken salad out of chicken s**t!

[KnutCase]

My first post...I apologize in advance for any screwups. The Bug Guy seems like calmest and most knowledable witness so far. This may open dorr wide open for reasonable doubt...if so...police may have to go back to Square One. It seems to me that in most child kidnappings the parents are usually lokked over with a microscope First...then on to other possibilities. If this is so why didn't LE advise Van Dams not to dispose of anything that could have a bearing on the case....I.E., a blue van?? Carpeting?? Clothing?? I don't know where I'm going with this...just wondering.

[John Jamieson]

Sounds like this body was dried out high on a mountain, low humidity, warm temps, lots of sun, and then moved to Dehesa and placed under the tree.

If you think DW dumped her over the first weekend then someone else had to move the body to Dehesa after 2 weeks.

[Politicalmom]

OR she was alive much later than previously thought.

[Freedom2specul8]

Ok..ucansee2 is doing a great job catching details..