VAN DAM MURDER VERDICT [VERDICT IN: GUILTY!]

ABC radio

[Eva]

Frankly, I am still not sure that Westerfield is guilty. Neither am I sure that he is innocent. I still think that Damon might have had something to do with his daughter's disappearance. The guy is too weird and unemotional. I even spoke to someone who works with Damon who thought that Westerfield was innocent. I have to admit that not being able to view the type of child pornography that Westerfield had on his computer handicaps the judgement call. However, I feel that it must have been pretty bad for the jury to bring in a guilty verdict.

Still, your vitriolic condemnation of the Westerfield supporters makes you sound worse than any of them.

[Dave_in_Upland]

Thank you for proving once again that the smallest minds have the biggest mouths. LOL

[Dave_in_Upland]

Take some time and smell the bleach!

Yes Nauti, please do take time to smell the bleach in the motor home, because there was no smell of bleach testified to, except in the minds of the media. NO ONE testified that they smelled bleach in the motor home, or to the fact that it had been 'spring cleaned'.

When you come down from your bloodlust orgasm from the guilty verdict I only hope that you will start to use your mind and verify facts as facts before you cite them.

[Dave_in_Upland]

If he truly is innocent, he'd better. I would have risked it at trial myself.

Every prosecutor hopes and prays that the accused will testify at their trial because it is just so much easier to convict them. LMAO

[NautiNurse]

Why do you insist on such a disconnect with the evidence? DW owned the RV, used it that weekend Danielle went missing, left the remnants of his industrious cleanup at Twin Peaks dry cleaners, and in his very own lint trap in the washer/dryer, and he left the empty bleach bottle in his very own trash can in his very own home.

Westerfield could have been spokeman for the next Mr. Clean and Power Scrub commercials. Fortunately, he missed enough spots for a conviction.

Why is it so very impossible for you to put 1+1+1 = 3 together? I realize there has been a dumbing down in our nation, but your behavior is ridiculous.

[agrandis]

I sincerely believe you will end your life cared for by the state you so loath, as your mental capacity can only dwindle from this point.

I may well eventually fade away with old timer's disease, if I live that long, but no matter what, the state won't be caring for me, if ANY of my many relatives or my local church are alive and kicking.

I agree with you that my mental capacity can only shrink from this point, as it couldn't get any bigger, could it? ;-)

[EllaMinnow]

Your profile page is beautiful.

[Dave_in_Upland]

DW owned the RV, used it that weekend Danielle went missing, Then why wasn't a scent of Danielle, alive or dead, found in the RV? Why was there just one print? If she was not bound (there was no evidence of bruising on her body) how did he restrain her? If he killer her there how come their was no evidence of her death?

And if you had the body of a dead girl in your motor home would you go to sites where you would meet friends and be expected to entertain?

The logic of those who wish to convict does not pass the 'smell' test. As many have said before, the only ones that do not have a 'dog' in this fight are the dogs and the bugs, and they voted not guilty.

[agrandis]

How well do you understand this "bug stuff," as you call it? Did you realize it is as predictable and verifiable as fingerprinting, when trying to determine timelines? If I had a loved one murdered, or charged with murder and I thought he was innocent, I would want "bug stuff" competently applied to the case for the sake of accuracy.

I believe you are knocking a useful science you know nothing about based on your limited knowledge of one case you followed in the news. I challenge you to educate yourself more generally about forensic entomology.

[Illbay]

They are an AMAZING thing to behold.

So is a malignant tumor of the brain.

[Palladin]

One thing I learned from this trial is that forensic entymology is not the exact science we have been led to believe it is, for instance in movies ("Silence of the Lambs") or TV (CSI). All it can provide regarding time of death is a range of possibilities.

The DNA evidence, OTOH, was overwhelming.

[agrandis]

Leaving arguments about this case aside, how have you learned that forensic entomology is not an "exact science?" Do you say that because the third entomologist appeared on the scene and disputed the timing? Dig into his testimony and that of the other entomologists more deeply. Study outside this case to see what you can make of all their testimony. Just as the jury in the OJ case did not understand genetics and DNA, this jury did not understand entomology, in this entomologist's opinion. The OJ case even had the defense calling their own "expert witness" (the Chinese fella who also whored for the Clintons in the Foster case) to confuse the jurors about the DNA evidence.

The third entomologist in this case was paid to create smoke and mirrors, and he did his own profession and Justice a great disservice in the process. Find other entomologists with knowledge of forensic entomology, and ask them what they think of the evidence presented in this case. You may be surprised with the opinion you find.

[agrandis]

Still, your vitriolic condemnation of the Westerfield supporters makes you sound worse than any of them.

Aww, Illbay is like that on all the threads he visits. Just an angry person. We can't know why; we can only pity.

[small voice in the wilderness]

LOL! Seriously, I was amazed when I first started reading the Smokey Backroom Threads. I had no idea that Squeaky Fromme had been released and the Family was now following Dave.

[Palladin]

Thank you for clarifying. As a layperson, I, too, was confused by the testimony of all three entomologists. Of course, that was partially due to my ignorance of the subject. I wish I had more time to read up on entymology. My freshman Bio teacher (50 years ago) was Dr. Lacaillade, a premier expert on mosquitoes. He was a wonderful teacher, and going into his lab full of maneating anopheles mosquitoes was scary and exciting at the same time.

[NautiNurse]

Then why wasn't a scent of Danielle, alive or dead, found in the RV? Why was there just one print?

I'll say it again, slowly this time...B L E A C H...

If she was not bound (there was no evidence of bruising on her body) how did he restrain her?

Please explain to this humble nurse the signficance that bruising was not evident on a mummified body with much flesh missing?

And if you had the body of a dead girl in your motor home would you go to sites where you would meet friends and be expected to entertain?

I would never try to presume the actions of a ruthless killer--however, to entertain you--what "friends" did he meet and entertain during his meandering through the desert anyway?

[EllaMinnow]

Have you seen the backroom thread tonight?
They are knee-deep in vitriol, to the extent of posting freepmails for general mockery.

No one person is capable of harboring the same amount of vitriol as a mob.

[NautiNurse]

Thanks! :::blush:::

[agrandis]

Wow! 50 years ago you took freshman Bio? I'm going to my parents' 50th anniversary next monthy. You'd be about their age. I feel impudent for rebuffing you, sir. :) Entomologists probably make the best Biology teachers. We are a rare and strange breed, even though insects are definitely not rare, as a group.

Seriously, though, maybe I should write something up to try to explain all the entomological testimony in this case. I had been avoiding following this case in detail, because it was so depressing, but when the entomology showed up, I got interested. Now, after discussing it here, I see I am able to pretty much block out that a tiny, innocent girl was murdered while I talk about forensic entomology.

westerfield may indeed be the killer, and if he is, I hope he's put to death, and I hope he somehow can become reconciled to his Maker, and be made in Heaven what he is supposed to be, instead of the monster he has become.

But the entomology testimony has me troubled about the verdict. There are other things that bother me, but I may not understand what I think I'm seeing in those points.

Do you know of anywhere I could find a transcript of all the testimony in this case?

[P-Marlowe]

The main reason why criminal defendants don't take the stand is because they are guilty. Especially in Murder cases.

Did you know that if you are a criminal defense lawyer and you know that your client is guilty, you cannot allow your client to take the stand. You could get disbarred. If your client insists on taking the stand you have to approach the judge and tell him you must be relieved as counsel.

As an attorney you cannot ask your client a question if you know your client is going to lie.