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

Union Tribune ^ | July 10, 2002 | Kristen Green

[FresnoDA]

Bug expert shakes central prosecution theory

David Westerfield faces the death penalty if convicted of killing Danielle van Dam.

By Harriet Ryan
Court TV

Was David Westerfield already under police surveillance when Danielle van Dam's body was dumped along a roadside?

A defense insect expert testified Wednesday at Westerfield's capital murder trial in San Diego that bugs recovered from the 7-year-old's autopsy indicate that her body was outside a much shorter time than prosecutors claim.

In graphic and often disturbing testimony, forensic entomologist David Faulkner, who attended the autopsy at police invitation, told jurors that insects first infested the second-grader's corpse between Feb. 16 and Feb. 18. He said infestation can begin immediately after a dead body is dumped and can be set within 20 minutes.

Danielle went missing from her bedroom the night of Feb. 1 and Westerfield was trailed by police around the clock beginning Feb. 5. Searchers found the body Feb. 23.

Prosecutors have suggested that Westerfield, a 50-year-old engineer who lived across the street from the van Dams, killed Danielle and disposed of her body between Feb. 2 and Feb. 4.

But Faulkner said "none of the maggots I looked at would indicate that" she was left outside before Feb. 4.

Prosecutor Jeff Dusek suggested Faulkner's conclusions might be skewed by "extremely abnormal" weather temperatures in San Diego last February. Faulkner acknowledged that the record-setting heat, warm winds and lack of rain severely diminished the number of flies in the area. In fact, Faulkner said, he had never seen fewer flies than last February.

But, the witness noted, whatever flies were in the area should have been drawn to the body and he found no evidence that they were present before Feb. 16.

Because of Judge William Mudd's previously scheduled vacation, the trial will be in recess until July 22.

[cyncooper]

but husband is getting a lap-top..so I can tune into the internet live feed.(I'm on WEB TV)..

How fun!

[fatima]

I think the blood is impressive,I have great doubts about this case but unless they explain how this little girl's blood got there I think he is guilty.

[UCANSEE2]

Well, gotta go. GOOD LUCK you all. KEEP up the debates.

Will check back tomorrow.

Here is a copy of the latest PING LIST.

ALSO, WELCOME 'tetelestai' to the threads !!!!!!!!

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[rolling_stone]

I think you misinterpreted what the expert said and as for fiber evidence so far it's smoke and mirrors, fibers are notoriously poor trace evidence.

[KnutCase]

Perhaps. But the "planter" porobaly would have left some forensic evidence. Still have the problem of the one fingerprint of Danielle in the motor home.....Hmmm???

[hoosiermama]

She had been scratched before going to home to sell GS cookies...(jacket) She may have been playing in the MH without consent....(She often had nose bleeds) NOT VERY MUCH BLOOD FOR A MURDER! JACKET BLOOD WAS NOT VISABLE TO EYE...... DRY CLEANER HAD NOT NOTICED IT.

[FresnoDA]

I warned you, you little creep!!!!

I didn't know that the Van DAM bugs would
be a problem, O.K.!!!!!!!

[CyberAnt]

No! I did not "misinterpret" what the guy said. And ... "fiber evidence" is not "smoke and mirrors".

What rock did you just roll out from under??

[BARLF]

So, PDvD had the blue Van on the 16th. of Feb. Wonder at name of this friend that made this Sat. trip with PDvD...John you are a wonder!

[gigi]

Post 267 of yours in the article -
"We wanted to have something so the kids could come down and show their support for Danielle." Wintersteen said " It's really important that they get to show support by tying ribbons of Danielle's favorite colors at the park where she played"

Is this the same park where DW sometimes parked his MH?
HMMM...

[John Jamieson]

"This is the solid testimony which will prove Westerfield didn't do it??"

In the good ole USA, you don't have to prove you didn't do it. They have to prove you did.

[rolling_stone]

Uh, I have been closely following the case since day one, and IMO the fiber evidence was not conclusive, not properly quantified and numerous fiber's were untested. http://www.crimelibrary.com/forensics/trace/3.htm

[hoosiermama]

The MH was not always locked. Have you ever seen kids around a MH? We have them on display at our County Fair. You'd think they were another ride on the midway....Had to actually keep kids out unless accompanied by adults...All those cute little bathroom and kitchen....just like a dream playhouse for a little girl. Infact, one of my friends keep an old camper out back just for her grand daughters. They call it the "girl's club" house.

[FresnoDA]

Dusek Rocked By Bug Expert.....

 

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Bug Expert Raises Questions About When Danielle Died
	A bug expert has said that it would appear Danielle van Dam's body was not at Dehesa Road until two weeks after David Westerfield was under 24-hour surveillance by police. More Details

Bug Expert Casts Doubt On Prosecution Timeline

An expert hired by police to analyze insect activity on Danielle van Dam's body ends up providing David Westerfield's defense team with its strongest piece of evidence.
More Details
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INSECT EXPERT TESTIFIES IN WESTERFIELD CASEThe defense was hoping for a more definitive answer to when Danielle van Dam's body was left in Dehesa, but their insect expert was only able to give an approximate answer.

[John Jamieson]

7 year olds bleed from the mouth all the time. Teeth keep falling out. Danielle played in that motorhome, but Damon may have "flaked" it a bit to help the case along.

[the Deejay]

"Is this the same park where DW sometimes parked his MH?"


Yep!! LOL!!

[is_is]

I think the blood is impressive,I have great doubts about this case but unless they explain how this little girl's blood got there I think he is guilty.

Excuse me....but this is America....remember the old saying....."innocent until PROVEN guilty". It is the Prosecuter's job to SHOW HOW THE BLOOD GOT THERE....not DW's. What if this were you....you know you did not do it and you have no idea how her blood got there.....you'd be saying....prove it is there because of my actions. Why in this case, does he have to do the job of LE and figure out how it got there.....besides the obvious....he is trying to save his a$$ from an overzealous and incompetent prosecution.

[John Jamieson]

I haven't even seen proof that it was "blood". Just that it had DNA in it. Drool is more likely.

[fatima]

She was in his home,no proof that this little girl was in MH home,how did her blood get in the MH.If I were on the jury that would be very important to helping me make up my mind.