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

Union Tribune ^ | July 10, 2002 | Kristen Green

[connectthedots]

But the latest date seems kind of meaningless, since it could have been put there before the 16th, an indeterminable time before the 16th. This means that it could have been there on the 16th, or it could have been there on the 2nd, right? So I don't see how this testimony help DW at all. It just means that the body wasn't dumped after the 16th-18th of Feb.

I don't disagree, but Feldman got Faulkner to say that he only saw one generation of flies, which could support a conclusion that the body was disposed of around 2/16-18.

The real key is that there were no beetle larva in/on the body. This is what establishes the no earlier than date after a time that DW could have disposed of the body.

[mommya]

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?

[gigi]

Plus Faulkner said that even in mummfication, flies would be on the inside. Dusak back on and on and on and........

[NatureGirl]

If Faulkner had information that would have placed that body on Dehesa on 2/2-2/4, the prosecution would have put him on the stand. It would have been "the nail in the coffin", so to speak. They didn't want to use his testimony.

I think it was most telling that Faulkner was so puzzled by the bug activity/lack of bugs that he found, that he had to call the ME and ask if the body had been contained somehow.

[pyx]

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.

A gold star for you. Exactly.

[mommya]

"I think it was most telling that Faulkner was so puzzled by the bug activity/lack of bugs that he found, that he had to call the ME and ask if the body had been contained somehow."

Big BUMP for that comment.

[cyncooper]

Henrietta, I don't think I followed your drift at first reading. Sorry for skimming! I think you've got it right. The body could have been there as early as the weekend of the 2nd (My theory is Sunday night).

[Freedom2specul8]

Still not sure..For some reason ,the body didn't decompose in a natural way. Someone needed a witness to explain "why".

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

IMO, Feldman's last elicited answer hammered home the impact of Faulkner's testimony.

There is nothing to indicate any reason there is no evidence of earlier insect activity.

That is what the jury is left with for ten days.

Read 'em and weep VDAs.

[Jaded]

Can we hear people falling off the fence?

[UCANSEE2]

DUSEK again. (what is this, cross/cross examination? How many times does he get to do this?)

Trying to say Flys not attracted to Trash like tires, refrigerators, boxes.etc.

I can't hardly follow DUSEK.

Dusek trying to imply that it took animals several weeks to smell out Daneille's body and bite into it. Thenthe 10-12 days for the fly larvae procedure happened.

JMO: If her body was dumped, animals would have gotten to it the first night.

IMO he just failed to prove Danielle's body was there before approx. 16th FEB.

[connectthedots]

I missed the last question prior to Feldman dismissing Faulkner. What was the question and the answer?

[John Jamieson]

I live in a rural area and see it all the time. 24 hours is more than enough to start.

[Politicalmom]

Yeah. Why did he get to come back after redirect???

[the Deejay]

Feldman left the jury with a good one!! When he asked Faulkner, "There's no explaination why there were no insects on the body BEFORE Feb. 16th, correct? Answer, "Correct."

I am paraphrasing but think it's close enough. Anyone agree with me?

[mommya]

So is this what everyone got out of the testimony - that although there was some kind of insect stuff that showed the body could've been there 3 weeks - there was other bug stuff that showed this could not be the case - and Dusek tried to divert the jury away from the evidence that excludes the longer timeframe?

[NatureGirl]

Sorry. I'm not following it live at this moment. Can't help.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Feldman's last question was something to the effect of asking if there was any reasonable explanation for the lack of activity that would indicate and earlier PMI. Faulkner simply answered, "No."

[Henrietta]

Cyn: Look at post 80! This would seem to not go with your Sunday night theory...

All:Now I get it! Thanks to all of you for putting up with my silly questions!

[the-gooroo]

I agree NG--All I know is if I was on that jury I couldn't send this man to the death chamber if I wasn't sure how long her body was there.