2nd Bug Expert Bolsters Westerfield Defense: (Dusek Melting Down Before Juries Eyes!!)

SAN DIEGO -- The trial of David Westerfield resumed Monday with more testimony about insects, as defense lawyers tried to show that their client was not the person who dumped Danielle van Dam's body along a two-lane road in East County.

Before testimony began, Judge William Mudd warned jurors to ignore last week's murder of a young girl in nearby Orange County. Mudd said that the abduction, sexual assault and murder of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion "bears no relation" to the trial of David Westerfield.

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.

Neal Haskell, forensic entomologist 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.

HUUUUHLLLLO !!!!!!!!! EL CAJON IS NOT A DESERT !!!!!!!!!!!

It doesn't need to be a desert. In fact a label isn't relevant. Its the temperature, humidity etc that is relevant. But seeing that labels ae important to you here is definition of desert

A dry, often sandy region of little rainfall and sparse vegetation.

Moe specifically

What's a Desert?

A desert can be defined as an area that receives an average annual rainfall of 12 inches or less. A desert region is usually defined by a combination of factors such as climate, topography, and plant and animal communities.

The Chihuahuan Desert is one of four deserts in North America. It is the largest of all in the continent.

Temperatures in deserts are dependent upon latitude and elevation. Temperatures in the Chihuahuan Desert are cool because, even though it is the farthest south, it is the highest desert in North America.

Humidity in desert regions is normally very low, thus affecting our perception of heat. You would feel warmer in a moist climate along a coastline than you would in a desert, even though the temperature in the desert is the same or even higher. The primary reason for this is that your perspiration evaporates quickly in dry air, cooling your skin. Generally strong winds in desert regions aid in this process. But don't be fooled by the perceived lower temperature. It's still hot! You should drink plenty of water and wear proper clothing while outdoors in a desert region.

.Soils in desert regions may be simple or very complex. Usually little organic matter may be found in desert soils and they tend to be very hard -- with the obvious exception of dune area. Water retention in desert soils is typically very poor.

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2nd Bug Expert Bolsters Westerfield Defense

Expert Says Fly Infestations Show When Danielle's Body Was Dumped