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

NBC/San Diego ^ | July 22, 2002 | NBC/San Diego

[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.

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.

[countess]

Opening statements are not evidence. I think someone involved in this case did say that. Judge Mudd.

[John Jamieson]

Never mind, I thought you might be capable of rational thought....my mistake.

[Greg Weston]

No I've read the transcipt of Westerfields interview with the cops.

What do you rely on?

[Jaded]

Check out downloading bulk porn for free and fee. You down load a zip file and when you open it it organizes itself. They are packaged that way. Other Freepers have done the research.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Just a friendly suggestion so you don't end up feeling silly.....

Disregard the sound bites and read the transcripts. You are spewing things that are not accurate and you don't even realize it.

[Travis McGee]

So where else does a sick pervert collect illegal violent child rape videos except the internet?

Or are you in "DW Kiddie Porn Denial" mode like you are in fingerprint, fiber, DNA etc denial mode?

[connectthedots]

Attorneys as officers of the court is a misnomer. Attorneys are independent business people who act as agents of their clients in legal matters. I will find the USSC case that states as much when I get a chance tomorrow.

[UCANSEE2]

Let's just see what happens the next two days. OK?

I didn't cut and paste wrong, you just have proved to me you don't read all the posts, you just kinda skip around.

If you had followed all the replies to you, would would have understood.

ANyway, doesn't matter, let's just see what tomorrow brings.

[Travis McGee]

A DNA match is a DNA match, checkable anywhere, and the fee is spread among many in the lab, not like the $350/hour bug watcher who can say whatever he likes.

[merry10]

THere is more evidence that Westerfield murdered Danielle than there was evidence on OJ. Are you all saying that OJ is really not guilty too? How many more child rapes and murders do we need to have? Do we want another Avila running around loose? Just because the parents are swingers allegedly does not mean they did anything. Negligent...probably.

[FresnoDA]

You are on target for...666

[UCANSEE2]

It's right from Westerfield's interview with the cops. Want me to post it?

go for it.

[demsux]

Hey Greg,

How's that "sourcing" going...

[FresnoDA]

Song Parody countdown in 5,4,3,2,1

[FresnoDA]

Sourcin...Sorcerin...LOL

[FresnoDA]

BTTT!

[Travis McGee]

I'll take your word on down loading kiddie porn.

So tell me how the violent kiddie rape clips and images got on DWs computer without his knowing it in personal files that were created AT HIS HOUSE, not by some remote program?

[demsux]

Travis McGee

threadjackal or some other term???

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

While I've got you here, could you give a quick summary about the computer expert that testified in detail about the various computers in the house, etc.?

If you can't, I'll assume that I am right and you have no idea of the testimony.

Of all people, I am surprised that you would rely on reporters for unbiased facts.