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2nd Bug Expert Bolsters Westerfield Defense: (Dusek Melting Down Before Juries Eyes!!)
NBC/San Diego ^ | July 22, 2002 | NBC/San Diego

Posted on 07/22/2002 3:02:31 PM PDT by FresnoDA

2nd Bug Expert Bolsters Westerfield Defense

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

 

POSTED: 6:58 a.m. PDT July 22, 2002
UPDATED: 2:28 p.m. PDT July 22, 2002

 

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 entomologistA 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.



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: 180frank; bugsrunamok; vandam; westerfield
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To: Poohbah
Keep arguing, you are putting your foot in your mouth (i.e. you knoweth not where you speak, nor to whom).
401 posted on 07/22/2002 6:56:50 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
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To: Travis McGee
Wow, that Little River has really got the inside track huh? 10 men in 23 seconds, WOW. I'm really convinced that DW did it now. He learned to finished the whole job in 2.3 seconds flat. Lots of practice required I'll bet.
402 posted on 07/22/2002 6:59:31 PM PDT by John Jamieson
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To: VRWC_minion
Probality theory.

  A very bad application of probability theory at that. We know that a single hair of Danielle's was found in the sink trap of the motor home. We know there are multiple ways it could have gotten there, simply because we are able to imagine multiple ways, and don't actually know the answer. The sum of the probabilities of all the ways it could have gotten there must be equal to 1.

  This, then is the calculation that you're really interested in - not some single path theory. It's a much more difficult problem (in fact, it's not solvable, since you must assign a probability to the paths you have not thought of). But then, that's why we don't put probability evidence in a courtroom, and why it's not taken too seriously on these boards.

Drew Garrett

403 posted on 07/22/2002 6:59:42 PM PDT by agarrett
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To: Travis McGee
"But it's a fact that DW is a VERY bright man who supported his big house and big RV lifestyle on his own patented inventions, not the sign of a moron like "I live with Mom " Avila."

Even multi millionaires with the brains of einstein can still be idiots. DW, the horndog...had a drinking problem just like the vd's..so they're both stupid with regards to their impulsive addictive types of behaviours... :)

404 posted on 07/22/2002 7:00:13 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8
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To: VRWC_minion
Your argument is that Van Dams are immoral therefore Westerfield didn't do it ? My argument follows the same logic as yours, both of your arguments.

Since it cannot be proven that God exists, then you do not exist. Now, who was I talking to ?

:)

405 posted on 07/22/2002 7:01:42 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
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To: Travis McGee
Dusek wants to bring in Goff and expects the jury to believe him. Dusek can't have it both ways.
406 posted on 07/22/2002 7:01:42 PM PDT by Jaded
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To: VRWC_minion
One hair transfered from Brenda makes it to the guys sink trap ? That is on par with the same probaility I have of winning a McDonalds lottery.

and only one hair found in a sink trap makes the place a crime scene - what is the probobility of that?It's obvious that you have not been following the case too closely, and all you want to do is bait and argue.

Why does the size matter?

It matters when the MH is a supposed crime scene

Apparently someone did it.
No - No one proved anything.....

Hair, blood or blood like subtance = DNA, plus fingerprints ?
already went over the 1 hair 1 spot deal.....

She may have
and no one heard her.... yea, right

I doubt she was murdered there, is that the case being made ? no DNA or hair from him in her room or in her entire house? I doubt that is true.

then you had better start reading the transcripts - no evidence that he entered the house or was in her room

What may be true is the police didn't gather any.

yes, that's it! They didn't gather any DNA/other evidence from the ONE suspect that they want to fry for her murder!!! That's the ticket....! what GREAT POLICE WORK!

but yet one single hair was in the MH? It was my understanding that a hair was found in trap ?

I would ask you what your point is, but you have made that apparent, all that you want is to bait people - why not read the transcripts and start following the case like the rest of us?

407 posted on 07/22/2002 7:03:36 PM PDT by CAPPSMADNESS
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To: VRWC_minion
"Well yes. Unless someone made an effort to clean up and dispose of them."

Okay, fair. But if he disposed of them through the sink, wouldn't there have been more? He did vacumn and no more hair was found.


"But if she was in the MH over the weekend wouldn't there be more fingerprints?"

"Not if she was told to stay in one place."

UMMM, ya lost me there, she was 7 years old. No way she sat still while he was driving. He had to restrict her in some way.

"Apparently there is no sign of this. He could have kept her in place by threats and fear."

Again, I don't think so, not while he was driving. He went to the Beach, was she still alive, just sitting quietly not touching anything? He went back to the neighborhood, was she still alive, sitting still, being quiet? He went to the desert, was she still alive?



These are things that bother me.

"If DW had her in the MH for however long the prosecution thinks, wouldn't there be more trace evidence of a murder? "

"If he was dumb enough to kill her there. I doubt he killed her inside."

He didn't kill her before he put her in the MH and he didn't kill her in the MH. When do you think he killed her and when did he dump her body?


"She had to be in there for awhile, why didn't the dogs smell her? "

"Cleaning, aired out ? "

Could be, but the dogs searched the MH 3-4 days after her disappearance, when did DW have time to air out the MH?









408 posted on 07/22/2002 7:03:55 PM PDT by gigi
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To: Travis McGee
He did go on a dry cleaning emergency run first thing in the AM did he not?

If you were a member of Mensa, and you had an article of clothing with possible evidence of murder on it, would you take it to the dry cleaner? What if the cleaner spots blood and calls the cops? What if the cops visit the dry cleaner and get access to the clothing? What if the cops nail you on the way to the cleaning shop? No, I think a proper Mensan would come up with a more certain and more private means of disposal!

409 posted on 07/22/2002 7:05:20 PM PDT by cynwoody
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To: John Jamieson
Did you know that he claims to not recognize 180 frank in testimony?

Regardless, if you ignore the fact that boyce or feldman..I forget which..badgered him pretty bad and probably gave the witness jury sympathy...we really dont' know the jury's reaction on that.

Wish you could have been here earlier today instead of at night..

See ya later...or tomorrow. :)

410 posted on 07/22/2002 7:05:45 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8
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To: Travis McGee
Are you on the side of dw being not guilty or have you changed your mind? I'll check in for answer later.
411 posted on 07/22/2002 7:07:11 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8
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To: agarrett
We know there are multiple ways it could have gotten there, simply because we are able to imagine multiple ways, and don't actually know the answer.

I am going by the ways I was told it happened here.

I was told it 1). Fell off during her play time visit, 2) was washed up by Westerfield, 3) Was deposited in the sink. Based on this there would have to have been the stated events.

The sum of the probabilities of all the ways it could have gotten there must be equal to 1.

I agree and the idea that it got there by her playing hide and seek doesn't add up.


412 posted on 07/22/2002 7:07:20 PM PDT by VRWC_minion
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To: cynwoody
But then he has to explain why this stuff is "disposed".
413 posted on 07/22/2002 7:07:38 PM PDT by Greg Weston
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To: VRWC_minion
Why is there a need to explain it ? The only relevant hairs are Danielles ?

That was sarcasm, right? If not, I guess I can see how you developed your opinion. :)

The only hairs relevant are Danielle's,
The only (hairs,fibers,prints,etc) relevant are Westerfield's.

Just ignore those other hairs,fibers,prints you found. They don't mean anything.

Thank you for your co-operation
(signed, the real killer)

414 posted on 07/22/2002 7:07:54 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
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To: CAPPSMADNESS
I would ask you what your point is, but you have made that apparent, all that you want is to bait people - why not read the transcripts and start following the case like the rest of us?

I am not baiting but I am accepting new information. So far the idea that the physical evidence got in the RV by playing there isn't credible to me. It defies probabilities and logic.

415 posted on 07/22/2002 7:09:22 PM PDT by VRWC_minion
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To: Greg Weston
But then he has to explain why this stuff is "disposed".

He had a window of opportunity to do this, but didn't.

416 posted on 07/22/2002 7:09:37 PM PDT by crypt2k
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To: cynwoody
By the way, I seem to recall one of the victim's parents' circle of decadent friends is a retired detective and thus wise in the ways of murder investigations (not to suggest anything, of course).

BTW, that FRIEND was ON THE SCENE right away, directed the VD's what to say and do, and also happened to be a CLOSE PERSONAL FRIEND of the DETECTIVES that investigated the case (guess who).

417 posted on 07/22/2002 7:10:11 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
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To: VRWC_minion
"Probality" that DW could have have dumped Danielle at Dehesa between Feb 12 and 21st, undetected=0%.

"Probality" that Damon could have dumped Danielle at Dehesa on his week end trip of Feb 16th, undetected=98.873%.

"Probality" that Damon knew where Danielle's body was when he said to the Press on Feb 18th, that the searchers should be looking closer to SD=100%.
418 posted on 07/22/2002 7:10:25 PM PDT by John Jamieson
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To: demsux
You must admit that taking off early today AND all day tomorrow (after having 11 days off)

Ok, I had to be away and am trying to catch up , but I am surprised people here didn't catch why the delay.

Feldman is evidently going to call some media people and just got a tape delivered that he had subpoened. The prosecutor needs a chance to see it, too. So that is, in part, why they were done "early" today. Tomorrow they are also going to go over the prosecution plan for rebuttal, so no jury needed.

Also, Feldman evidently going to rest on Wednesday so doesn't seem he has too much else to offer, unless that is under discussion, but the judge indicated Feldman said he would be resting on Wednesday

419 posted on 07/22/2002 7:10:36 PM PDT by cyncooper
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To: Travis McGee
"DW fans"

I don't think that anyone on this thread is a fan of DW - but we are fans of justice, the fact that a person is innocent until PROVEN guilty, and we firmly believe that a person should be convicted on FACTS and EVIDENCE, not on FEELINGS. This case is not as cut and dry as all of you "VD" fans (LOL) want to believe. There are some very disturbing aspects to it.

420 posted on 07/22/2002 7:11:25 PM PDT by CAPPSMADNESS
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