Let's start with allegations of police misconduct, not permitted. Then move on to the infamous phone call to the VanDams of Feb. 16, not permitted. Perhaps the requests for defense investigation of evidence in the VanDam house, not permitted.
Basically, anything that may have served to produce an inference blaming the VanDams for Danielle's murder was not permitted into trial. The excuse was the Westerfield was the one on trial, not the VanDams. However, if his reasonable defense is that some one else - the VanDams - did it, this can create a mistrial. I suspect it will in this case.
Drew Garrett