Free Republic

Prosecution witness challenges findings of defense 'bug expert' By Jeff DillonSIGNONSANDIEGO July 30, 2002 Union-TribuneDr. M. Lee Goff An insect expert testifying for the prosecution in the David Westerfield case said Tuesday that flies appeared to have colonized Danielle van Dam's body sometime between Feb. 1 and Feb. 14, far earlier than defense witnesses have estimated. M. Lee Goff, an entomologist and chairman of the Forensic Sciences Department of Chaminade University in Honolulu, said his review of the crime scene photos, morgue photos, weather reports and other evidence suggest that Danielle's body was exposed to insects as early as...

Judge says sequestering of jury possible By Alex RothUNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERJuly 30, 2002The judge in the David Westerfield trial rejected another defense request to sequester the jury but said he still considers it "a possible option." Superior Court Judge William Mudd said he didn't think it was necessary at the moment but has asked the county to prepare "a back-up contingency plan" just in case.Westerfield's lawyers have asked several times for jury sequestration, and they renewed their request yesterday. Lead defense lawyer Steven Feldman said he worried that the jury might be affected by the publicity in the Samantha Runnion...