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TALE OF TWO LAWYERS...... DEFEATED and DECIETFUL

Westerfield Jury Reaches Verdict Panel Notifies Judge   UPDATED: 10:06 a.m. PDT August 21, 2002  SAN DIEGO -- Jurors have reached a verdict in the trial of the man charged with killing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.   After deliberating for more than nine days, the panel sent a note to Judge William Mudd saying it had reached agreement. The lawyers and defendant David Westerfield are being called back to the courtroom, where the verdict will be read starting at 11 a.m. Westerfield is charged with murder, kidnapping and misdemeanor possession of child pornography. If convicted of the special circumstance...

Discovery hearing set as jurors deliberate for ninth day SIGNONSANDIEGO August 20, 2002 A request by the prosecution in the David Westerfield kidnap-murder trial to obtain more evidence or information, originally scheduled for a 10:30 a.m. hearing, has been vacated. Word of the hearing's cancellation was relayed to media representatives shortly after 10 a.m. today.The subject of the discovery motion filed by lead prosecutor Jeff Dusek was not disclosed. No reason was given for the hearing's cancellation.Today is the ninth day of deliberation by jurors. Today's deliberating session began at 9:07 a.m., according to a public information officer.Westerfield, 50, is...

Mudd denies access to transcripts of closed hearings as well as lineage to Hussein SIGNONSANDIEGO August 19, 2002  WITH VIDEOWith the jury completing its eighth day of deliberations without a veredict in the kidnap-murder trial of David Westerfield, the judge in the case has denied a media request to unseal transcripts of closed hearings. The motion before Superior Court Judge William Mudd was filed by Guylyn Cummings, the attorney who represents the San Diego Union-Tribune and other media companies.During the trial, a number of hearings were held outside of public view. Mudd denied the motion, reasoning that the jury was...

Jury veterans say emotions can take overFeelings could impede addressing 'real issues' By Kristen GreenUNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERAugust 18, 2002Jurors have deliberated on the David Westerfield case for seven days, and still no verdict. Commentators speculate about the reasons on every radio and television station. But only 12 people know what's going on inside the jury room, out of sight of the attorneys, the judge and the media.Jury consultants say the panel is probably quite organized and that deliberations are taking "a little long" because it's a complicated case. The experts say the jurors probably have been methodically sifting through evidence.But...

Letters to judge opened to public SIGNONSANDIEGO August 14, 2002 The judge in the trial of David Westerfield today allowed reporters to see court log entries of notes from jurors, as well as letters to the judge from the public about the murder of Danielle van Dam. The letters from the public included a variety of theories about the case. Jurors ask to review pictures, interview   One letter-writer sent the following theory to Judge William Mudd: "Danielle van Dam killed herself.'' A nearly illegible postcard with a Spokane postmark alluded to at least one ex-wife "with a drinking...

<p>SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) --A San Diego jury began deliberations Thursday in the trial of David Westerfield, accused of kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.</p> <p>The panel of six men and six women adjourned for the day without reaching a verdict. It is set to resume deliberations Friday.</p>

Defense rests; each side puts its spin on evidenceBy Steve Perez and Jeff DillonSIGNONSANDIEGO August 7, 2002 Ending nearly five hours of defense argument, the chief attorney for murder defendant David Westerfield rested Wednesday afternoon by urging jurors to remember they "save us from lynchings" and reminding the panelists that they are the "conscience of the community." The jury should begin deliberations Thursday. Defense attorney Steven Feldman began his afternoon remarks by telling jurors he was in the "homestretch" of his arguments. Repeatedly, he urged jurors to take the defense's point of view into consideration when the prosecution received its...