Posted on 07/22/2002 3:02:31 PM PDT by FresnoDA
Westerfield's trial had been in recess since July 11 so the judge could take a previously scheduled vacation.
Westerfield, 50, lived two doors from Danielle, who vanished after her father put her to bed the night of Feb. 1. Searchers found the girl's nude body on Feb. 27 along a rural roadside east of San Diego.
A forensic entomologist, testifying Monday for the defense, said Danielle's body could not have been dumped at the roadside before Feb. 12, according to his analysis of flies and larvae collected during an autopsy. The blow flies that were found on the body typically descend on a cadaver shortly after death, but it can take longer in cooler temperatures, entomologist Neal Haskell said. Based on his analysis of the temperatures in the area at the time, Haskell (pictured, right) put "the time of colonization" likely at Feb. 14 and no earlier than Feb. 12.
Prosecutors challenged the defense's weather data.
Haskell's testimony puts the time the body may have been dumped several days earlier than suggested by a previous defense witness, entomologist David Faulkner. The defense has seized upon the time of death, which could not be precisely determined, to suggest that the body was dumped at a time when Westerfield was under constant police surveillance.
Westerfield was put under observation soon after Danielle disappeared, according to police testimony. He was arrested on Feb. 22.
During Haskell's testimony about insects devouring Danielle's body, the girl's parents, Brenda and Damon van Dam, stared at the floor as they sat in the back row of the courtroom. It is the first time that Damon van Dam has been in court since Judge William Mudd banned him from the proceedings almost a month ago as a security risk. Mudd restored his trial privileges just before going on vacation.
Lawyers for Westerfield have said they expect to offer two to three more days of testimony.
Semi-arid at worst, and even true deserts like Phoenix and Las Vegas, have plenty of flies let me tell you.
I'm so glad you mentioned this again.
To me, this fact causes great suspicion. Why the play acting and why now?
Damon went from Mr. Mellow, worried about his pot smoking, not realizing his daughter's absence was serious to Mr. Stalking the defendant Dad in court......enough so to be certain to draw attention to himself. Something very smelly about this, IMO.
I think my scenario is simpler to show this. She was playing hide and seek. She got caught previously in prickers which scrathced her and loosened her hair. Her next game she hid in the RV and leaned over the sink and out the window when a hair fell into the drain, and then leaned against cabinent in back while looking for her friends. Much simpler.
I believe his girlfriend testified as to when it was in the PARK, and she was helping him put up hooks to hold the shades (IIRC). Sorry I can't be more specific.
I encourage your doing your own research, Although I know it is a luxury that not all have time to afford. Whatever you find, whether it is a possible or impossible scenario, please let me know. Eliminating an idea is just as helpful as someone coming up with a new idea.
But did they get there of their own accord or did they hitch a ride ?
besides, I don't read your claptrap anyway, therefore I have no reason to "report abuse". :)
The only relevant time is the conditions during that time period. I use the term desert to indicate lack of water for flies to breed. During such a time I would not be surprised to discover that flies don't wander as far and are less likely to find a corpse. I would not be surprised if the animals are what brings the fly's in such circumstances.
My understanding of the situation, and you have gotten tons of replies on this subject explaining this in detail, is that it doesn't make a difference.
You are trying to carry calculations out to the millionth decimal place, and no matter how far you keep extending beyond the decimal place, it will still only round up the whole number by a value of "1". It doesn't make any significant difference.
It wasn't a desert. The desert if FULL of insects, believe it or not. You can be in a DRY, BARREN DESERT and there will be FLIES. JUST ASK A CAMEL. Why do you think they have tails?
;)
And not one of them or one kid is being called to testify that kids were ever in the RV. Interesting.
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