Plea deal 'minutes away' when body found

San Diego Union Tribune ^ | September 17, 2002 | J. Harry Jones

[Illbay]

You seem to be saying the precise opposite of "the operation was successful but the patient died."

In this case, "the prosecution was atrocious--and the jury came up with a unanimous verdict of 'guilty' and 'worthy of death.'"

Sorry, I just don't get it. The jury heard the same thing you did, and they came up with what looks very much to be the correct verdict--since it appears Westerfield had unofficially admitted his guilt.

I think you can't argue with success.

[BunnySlippers]

Did we ever find out exactly which witnesses the judge considered to be known liers? He said there were some.

I believe it was Cherokee's mom. If you read the context of the conversation I think it had something to do with River's testimony.

I'll be here for 5 minutes. Then hopping on the freeway home. Yippee!

[let freedom sing]

CA voters need to get themselves a new Supreme Court.

CA voters will get a new SC, when there is a conservative majority in CA-- when pigs fly. :)

[Freedom2specul8]

After editing and re-editing..the only thing I can say is that you have really made your side look good. :)

[John Jamieson]

"unofficially admitted his guilt."

Just how does one do that????

Would a smartalec remark after 10 hours of questioning do it?

[Freedom2specul8]

I seem to recall a strong following of the rick roberts media/fan club "back in the beginning".

[Valpal1]

That would be the one that "saw" BVD "dirty dancing" with DW?

[VRWC_minion]

What was the time of death?

When Westerfields jacket was in contact with Danielle.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Wow, it looks like the moronic freepers who have been crying foul over this were just served a nice slice of humble pie.

[The KG9 Kid]

I suppose this means that the right man is going to be executed.

Alert the anti-DP people and inform them that they needn't bother showing up to protest on execution night.

[VRWC_minion]

Why was this evidence not presented to the Jury after theconviction

Easy, the discussion of plea bargains in exchange for information are never used. Its sort of a gentlemen's agreement among attorney's. Otherwise no defense attorney would ever try to bargain.

[Amore]

No, it's not a "gentlemen's agreement." It's the law.

[Illbay]

It's only a "test" because people like you keep insisting "marginal evidence," "frame-up," etc.

GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEAD: Most of us here think the evidence was OVERWHELMING, and thought Westerfield did it all along. To us, your continuing harping on the same, discredited themes is just bizarre.

As far as "FR being able to recover," this was such a small topic in comparison to others we've had--like the 2000 elections. We had a LOT of people turn "renegade" against FR during that period, and it was MUCH worse than the Westerfield threads ever thought about being, so I'm sure FR will recover.

[Spunky]

In retrospect Feldman's performance during closing arguments seemed to be totally dispassionate; certainly not what one would expect from an attorney who thought his client was innocent.

If Feldman knew Westerfield was guilty and defended him anyway, I think Duseks closing statements on how it probably happened really hit Feldman in the gut. He just couldn't put it together for the closing after that.

[Illbay]

Just how does one do that????

By negotiating with the prosecutors to reveal where he had dumped the body. Haven't you been paying attention?

[savedbygrace]

When you consider the bug "evidence" in this case, if this man (and I am being charitable to call him that) hadn't been so attached to the jacket that got the blood on it, he most likely would have skated.

Without the blood on the jacket, the bugs would have ruled the day. IMO.

But he had to get it cleaned, rather than burn it. That's what got him.

[VRWC_minion]

No, it's not a "gentlemen's agreement." It's the law.

Thanks. Does the law bind them after the case is over ?

[UCANSEE2]

Funny, also. Same group of people that trust the SD U-T article, have different views about newspaper reporters over on this thread!

Plane Crash and stupid SOCAL reporters

[John Jamieson]

Phone just rang.

Joshua Allan Spurlock, my newest grandson, born in FL about an hour ago. Mom and baby (7 pounds) doing fine, Dad falling apart.

Hurray!!!!

[VRWC_minion]

But he had to get it cleaned, rather than burn it.

I think he thought it was a small amount and that his hand cleaning followed by the dry cleaning would be enough to avoid detection. If the coat was not at the cleaners its likely it would not have been scrutinized as closely.