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.

[John Jamieson]

Thank you sir.

Is that a promise about not coming back, or are you just trying to cheer us up?

[John Jamieson]

TR must really be gone. My CRT just got brighter.

[Spunky]

Westerfield denied dancing with Brenda who "wasn't his type".

I don't see anywhere in this transcript you posted where he denies dancing with Brenda.

[demsux]

I am impressed, however, he was drunk AND witnesses said that they shared a brief rubdown

[Greg Weston]

What's the matter no comment on the police interview where Westerfield says absolutely nothing about dancing with Brenda?

Tell me how that jibes with the dirty dancing now??

[demsux]

Nope, I didn't do anything, she's just pissed...not just me, kids too.

[Politicalmom]

I wasn't referring to YOURS!! : )

[fatima]

Oh,are you part of the the twilight thread ,if I talk like a 2nd grader I is,the twilight thread gang puts down any poster that does not put wings on Westerfield.

[dread78645]

Pass the Dramamine, please. You might want to take some too, the way things are going tonight.

No Dramamine. Just a six of Miller beer and a can of peanuts.
BTW, I asked the AdMod to kiil my post, I got a little hot with PB's nonsense.

[Jaded]

I feel a killfile moment.....

[UCANSEE2]

You are a gutless coward.

What was that about? Demsux didn't make that comment to you or about you.

[Politicalmom]

You noticed that too?

[Dave_in_Upland]

Come on hang around Travis. You bring some much needed common sense to the issue.

ROTFLMAO Only a Greg Weston could think that the Travis wannabe is actually making sense. If John MacDonald were alive he would thrash the Freeper Travis for misuse of his charachter.

[demsux]

You are a gutless coward.

Come to St. Louis, MO and we'll see who the coward is

[Freedom2specul8]

LOL This newspeak glossary is really becoming priceless...

[Greg Weston]

Oh OK have it your way. Westerfield didn't deny it, he just didn't mention it for some reason when asked who he danced with. Cool. I guess he was too drunk to remember the "dirty dancing". What else was he too drunk to remember?

[Politicalmom]

That isn't what he said. TM said that Westerfield DENIED it because Brenda wasn't his type. That didn't have anything to do with what he posted.

[UCANSEE2]

At least make people have an original thought ONCE in a while!! : )

I only report the news, ma'am, I don't make it. :)

[Greg Weston]

So you think Westerfield is innocent?

[UCANSEE2]

Oh, Thank God, another of the clueless in San Diego crowd signs off.