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.

No evidence that DW planned the abduction or was in the VD home.

No DW DNA on Danielle.

No witnesses for DvD's whereabouts while the Pizza Gang was at Dad's.

No witnesses for Danielle's whereabouts for a 10 (?) hour period.

No witnesses to DW at the Dahesa site.

Some fibers on Danielle not linked to DW.

Since MH was a common feature of the neighborhood, child could play in it, leaving behind evidence that could later be examined for fibers and DNA.

= Reasonable Doubt.

My theory: Danielle was outside Friday evening, Saturday morning and was abducted by an Avila-type. The body was not dumped immediately but was stored (car trunk?). When DW was arrested, the perp dropped off the body.

Apparently the process is different than normal.

And for him to duplicate the conditions he must do the following:

Allow for DRYER than normal conditions (which accelerate fly activity)

Allow for close access to water (more food source from moss,etc on water surface,decaying plants) which provides increased fly population.

Allow for trash/garbage as MORE food source, providing an EVEN LARGER FLY POPULATION and places (inside fast food containers, bags, etc) for flies to LAY MORE EGGS on that food, CREATING AN EVEN LARGER FLY POPULATION, and (drum roll please....!.....!......!.....!)

A DEAD DOG CARCASS not a HUNDRED FEET AWAY from Danielle PROVIDING ANOTHER FOOD SOURCE, and giving off a smell that flys could detect for MILES, (the searchers said it was VERY STRONG), KEEPING AN EVEN LARGER POPULATION OF FLIES right NEAR Danielle.

I think her body was only there about 1 day before they found it. What do you think?

First of all, why have you decided that this Goff guy will testify?

Secondly, why should a juror believe that one entomologist that differs is better than two that concur?

Remember that it's very likely that not one juror knows anything of the science beyond what they are hearing in the courtroom.

Lastly, do not forget that Feldman doesn't make the big bucks for nothing. This is his thing. For all you know he may damage Goff pretty well and may highlight the prosecution's depseration in the process.

Do not forget that Faulkner was HIRED BY THE PROSECUTION.

It is reasonable to assume that all the jurors don't see all evidence and experts the same. You act as if each will see it through your eyes. That's an unwise assumption, to say the least.

All we need to do to be reminded of poor decisions on Dusek's part is to think back on 180-Frank. I'm putting my money on Feldman's experts (one of which reported first to Dusek & Co.) looking best in the end.

"Experts can be bought regardless of reputations" your post #96. So I will assume that Goff has been bought and give him the same consideration that you gave the other 2 experts. You being an expert and all, I guess you know how this works.

Yes, they can so one must keep a high degree of skepticism and reconcile the testimony with common sense. That response I gave was to prior posts who appeared to me to be making the claim that the last guys bug testimony was unimpeachable. In fact with the same set of data its likely the same expert could testify different conclusions. All he needs to do is qualify his testimony.

Dehesa Rd trip happened (in my speculation) Sunday evening.

Based on opportunity? The part Kim refers to where supposedly he wasn't where he said?

What vehicle did he use?

Why wouldn't police use TIRE TRACKS from the scene, if they could find them? (strike that, obvious answer)

Yeah, let's stick with the first two questions.

TIA (thanks in advance)

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2nd Bug Expert Bolsters Westerfield Defense

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