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Westerfield On Trial....WEEK 1 Recap....   Day 3: Brenda Van Dam, Dad's Bar Mother Of Murdered Girl Breaks Down On Stand Posted: 7:16 p.m. PDT June 6, 2002 Updated: 7:42 p.m. PDT June 6, 2002 SAN DIEGO -- No concerted effort was made between Brenda and Damon van Dam to withhold "lifestyle" information from police officers investigating the disappearance of their daughter, the mother testified Thursday. Brenda van Dam was on the witness stand most of the third day of David Westerfield's kidnap and murder trial. Westerfield, 50, is accused of abducting and killing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam and could...

DAY 3: Westerfield On Trial

Damon Van Dam Takes Witness Stand Day 2 Of Westerfield Trial Posted: 9:05 a.m. PDT June 5, 2002 Updated: 2:52 p.m. PDT June 5, 2002 SAN DIEGO -- The tearful father of murder victim Danielle van Dam admitted under oath Wednesday that he initially lied to police about a few events at his home that led up to her disappearance. Damon van Dam, 36, said police asked him what had happened in the garage of his home that night when two friends of his wife, Brenda, arrived before a "girls night out" at Dad's Cafe in Poway.The father testified...

Westerfield Trial Preparation KitRunning Transcripts to begin at 8:30 A.M.Tuesday, June 4, 2002 Westerfield Juror Profiles Westerfield Juror Profiles: affiliate stations Female, Hispanic, 30s - social worker for San Diego County - never served as juror - watched Brenda van Dam during preliminary hearing - believes in death penalty - believes defendant should testify Male, Hispanic, 50s - once served in the army (drafted), no longer active - 4 children, 2 granddaughters - daughter works in daycare - believe circumstantial evidence is tough to prove guilt - believes in death penalty Male, White, 83 - retired - was colonel in...

Van Dams to be excluded from courtroomThey will be treated like other witnesses  By Alex RothUNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERJune 1, 2002Because the parents of Danielle van Dam are potential witnesses, they won't be allowed in the courtroom for most or all of David Westerfield's trial, the judge in the murder trial said yesterday. San Diego Superior Court Judge William Mudd's ruling came after lawyers wrapped up jury selection by picking six alternate jurors – five women and one man. Opening statements are set for 10 a.m. Tuesday.Prosecutor Jeff Dusek said he wanted Danielle's parents to be able to attend the trial...

Jury Selection Completed In Westerfield Trial Six Alternates Picked Friday Posted: 9:54 a.m. PDT May 31, 2002 Updated: 2:53 p.m. PDT May 31, 2002 SAN DIEGO -- Jury selection was completed Friday in the trial of accused child killer David Westerfield, with the seating of five women and a man as alternate jurors. Westerfield, 50, could face the death penalty if convicted of murder, kidnapping, misdemeanor possession of child pornography, and a special circumstance allegation that the killing of Danielle van Dam happened during a kidnapping. Superior Court Judge William Mudd has scheduled opening statements for 10 a.m. Tuesday....

A fairly complete synopsis of the VD case....some of the links however have expired....FresnoDA Danielle van Damby Bill BickelSometime between 10pm Friday, February 1, 2002, and 9am Saturday, February 2, 7-year-old Danielle van Dam disappeared from her bedroom in the Sabre Springs section of San Diego, California. Her body was found in the desert outside of San Diego on February 27.Update: May 28The actual jury selection for David Westerfield's trial began today (previously, potential jurors had been filling out questionnaires)Analysis: May 21Why did the defense favor a speedy trial? Probably to take advantage of the public backlash against the...

SAN DIEGO ---- Jury selection got off to a slow start Tuesday in the trial of the man accused of killing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, as prosecutors and the defense struggled to find people who had not already made up their minds about the high-profile case. Prospective jurors repeatedly said they followed at least some of the intense media coverage and would have trouble being impartial in the case of a murdered child. "I have opinions based on what I've seen on the news," said one prospective juror before he was dismissed by Superior Court Judge William Mudd. "I don't...

Pro-capital-punishment jury sought'Death-qualified' panel in van Dam case may benefit prosecution, experts sayBy Alex Roth UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERMay 26, 2002By seeking the death penalty against David Westerfield, prosecutors have done more than just raise the stakes in the high-profile case. They've also helped shape the philosophical outlook of the jury. Because the Westerfield trial is a capital case, all the jurors – whether they're CEOs or janitors, retirees or recent college grads – will have one thing in common: A stated belief that the death penalty is appropriate under certain circumstances.Under state law, a jury in a capital case must...

Pro-capital-punishment jury sought 'Death-qualified' panel in van Dam case may benefit prosecution, experts say By Alex Roth STAFF WRITERMay 26, 2002 By seeking the death penalty against David Westerfield, prosecutors have done more than just raise the stakes in the high-profile case. They've also helped shape the philosophical outlook of the jury. Because the Westerfield trial is a capital case, all the jurors ? whether they're CEOs or janitors, retirees or recent college grads ? will have one thing in common: A stated belief that the death penalty is appropriate under certain circumstances. Under state law, a jury in a...

Judge limits lifestyle evidence in van Dam murder caseBy Alex RothUNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER May 15, 2002A jury can hear about some of David Westerfield's statements to police during the search for 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, and jurors can also see some of the computer pornography found in Westerfield's house, a judge ruled Wednesday. Tomorrow:Alex Roth continues coverage in tomorrow's San Diego Union-Tribune Special report: The Death of Danielle  Superior Court Judge William Mudd also said he will allow jurors to hear certain questions about the lifestyle of Danielle's parents, but only within "specific parameters." The judge's rulings come two days before...

Court frees Westerfield papersNew evidence: Danielle was sexually assaulted, her hair found in motor homeHair from 7-year-old Danielle van Dam was found inside David Westerfield's motor home, and prosecutors believe the girl was sexually assaulted before she died, according to court documents made public today.

Swingers say their clubs offer a lot more than sexUpcoming trial may put spotlight on the lifestyle By Jeff McDonaldUNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERMay 5, 2002No last names, and not much is exchanged in the way of personal information – at least among newcomers. In the closely guarded circles of swingers clubs, "no" means "no" and guests who behave disrespectfully are shown the door. Sex is plentiful. So are food, dancing, conversation and other garden-variety forms of recreation.People who have been swapping partners for years say the sex can be a small part of the experience. They liken the parties to social...

SAN DIEGO ---- Court papers outlining defense arguments to suppress statements made by accused child murderer David Westerfield to police and evidence collected from his property will remain under seal for now, a judge ruled Thursday. Other court papers, including a defense motion to sequester the jury when the case goes to trial, will be released Monday, Superior Court Judge William Mudd ruled. The prosecution is opposed to keeping a jury in a hotel for what is expected to be a three- to five-week-long trial. Westerfield, 50, is accused of kidnapping and murdering his 7-year-old neighbor, Danielle van Dam. Her...

SAN DIEGO ---- Court papers outlining defense arguments to suppress statements made by accused child murderer David Westerfield to police and evidence collected from his property will remain under seal for now, a judge ruled Thursday. Other court papers, including a defense motion to sequester the jury when the case goes to trial, will be released Monday, Superior Court Judge William Mudd ruled. The prosecution is opposed to keeping a jury in a hotel for what is expected to be a three- to five-week-long trial. Westerfield, 50, is accused of kidnapping and murdering his 7-year-old neighbor, Danielle van Dam. Her...

Front Pages \Edited by Sarah Sabalos LaSpaluto     Wednesday, May 01, 2002 The Other Van Dam Story —Thomas K. ArnoldTalk show host Rick Roberts made headlines with his KFMB-AM radio show about Damon and Brenda van Dam’s allegedly swinging lifestyle. But he wasn’t the only radio personality—or media outlet—to cast a critical eye on the backstory of the Danielle van Dam kidnapping case. John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou, whose John and Ken Show airs weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m. on Los Angeles station KFI-AM, devoted three shows to the case, even traveling to San Diego to broadcast...

Second child abduction haunts areaBEN FOX Associated PressSAN DIEGO ---- One child was taken from her bedroom in the middle of the night. The second vanished from a playground on a weekday afternoon. There appears to be no connection between the cases, but there is a chilling familiarity in the disappearance of a second San Diego child three months after the kidnap and murder of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam. Once again, apprehensive volunteers in orange safety vests are searching canyons; crews are hanging missing child posters around the city; and a mother pleads for help from the public. "I just...

Westerfield hearing could be focused on death penalty By J. Harry JonesUNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERApril 25, 2002A San Diego Superior Court hearing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. today for David Westerfield, the Sabre Springs man accused of kidnapping and murdering 7-year-old Danielle van Dam. The attorneys involved in the case are prohibited from discussing it because of a gag order, but it is possible that prosecutors will announce whether they will seek the death penalty against the self-employed engineer.His attorneys have insisted on Westerfield's right to a speedy trial, which is scheduled to begin May 17. He is being held...

Westerfield Lawyers Fight For Police Personnel Files Lawyers Believe Investigators Have History Of Misconduct Posted: 7:40 a.m. PDT April 18, 2002 Updated: 7:54 a.m. PDT April 18, 2002 SAN DIEGO -- A judge Thursday will consider a request by lawyers representing David Westerfield to review the personnel records of 13 officers involved in the investigation of Danielle van Dam's abduction and murder. In court documents, defense attorney Robert Boyce said that police ignored his client's requests for a lawyer and questioned him abusively following the 7-year-old's disappearance.In the days after the second-grader vanished, police were so rough in their...

DA: Deny Westerfield Access To Police Records Westerfield's Lawyers Want To Review Complaints Against Officers Posted: 2:33 p.m. PDT April 15, 2002 Updated: 3:07 p.m. PDT April 15, 2002 SAN DIEGO -- David Westerfield's request for the personnel files of 13 police officers involved in the investigation of Danielle van Dam's death should be denied, city attorneys argued in a response released Monday."There has been insufficient showing of good cause for disclosure of the records requested," attorney Paul E. Cooper wrote in his response for the city. "The (legal) privilege given such records is unique and is not easily...