Judge Reviews Cops' Files In Van Dam Murder Case
Westerfield Lawyers Believe Investigators Have History Of Misconduct
POSTED: 7:40 am PDT April 18,
2002
UPDATED: 11:33 am 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 -- that's after he reviews the files himself.
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 questioning that Westerfield "stated that he thought he was abused and all that was missing were the bright lights and a rubber hose," Boyce said in the documents. The documents maintain that after Westerfield became a suspect, police interrogated him for nine straight hours, ignoring his repeated requests to speak with a lawyer, sleep, make telephone calls, shower, change clothes and halt the interview, according to the documents. "I asked you to get me a lawyer. Bring me a lawyer in here. Bring the D.A. in. Bring somebody in I can talk to. ... You're asking me to admit to something," Westerfield told police detectives during one interview, the court documents state. "As far as I'm concerned, I didn't do it. I know that you're adamant that I did." Westerfield's trial is scheduled to begin on May 17. Boyce and defense attorney Steven Feldman especially want Superior Court Judge William Mudd to look at records of complaints against detectives Mark Keyser and Mike Ott, who they allege have a history of "dishonesty and excessive force." Ott and Keyser interviewed Westerfield two days after the girl disappeared and accompanied him on the 600-mile route he said he traveled the weekend Danielle van Dam turned up missing. They also tried to visit Westerfield in jail the day after the victim's body was found. Feldman and Boyce want Mudd to review records regarding aggressive conduct or violation of constitutional or statutory rights, including Miranda rights and rights to counsel, in interviewing suspects and witnesses. Ott and Keyser previously "violated a suspect's constitutional rights, used excessive force and lied," according to a document from Feldman and Boyce.
![]() DANIELLE VAN DAM 1994-2002 DISCUSSION Email: daniellevandam @yahoo.com Send mail to: P.O. Box 501515 San Diego, 92150 |
Previous Stories:
- April 17, 2002: Westerfield Fights To Keep Search Warrants Sealed
- April 15, 2002: DA: Deny Westerfield Access To Police Records
- April 12, 2002: Lie-Detector Specialist: Westerfield 'Deceptive'
- April 11, 2002: No Live Press For Westerfield Pretrial Hearings
- April 4, 2002: Westerfield Lawyer: Client Abused By Police
- March 28, 2002: Trial Date Set For Van Dam Murder Case
- March 28, 2002: Westerfield To Make Court Appearance
- March 25, 2002: $24,000 Left In Van Dam Search Fund
- March 24, 2002: Van Dam Family Honors Volunteers, Police
- March 19, 2002: Neighborhood Danielle Memorial Removed
- March 19, 2002: Danielle Memorial May Be Scrapped
- March 17, 2002: Memorial Celebrates Danielle van Dam
- March 15, 2002: San Diegans To Remember Danielle At Memorial
- March 15, 2002: Westerfield To Stand Trial In Van Dam Murder
- March 12, 2002: Preliminary Hearing Offers Additional Details
- March 11, 2002: Witness: Danielle's Body Found Nude, Decomposing
- March 8, 2002: Gag Order Issued In Van Dam Murder Case
- March 6, 2002: Where To Put Danielle's Flowers Sparks Row
- March 5, 2002: Danielle's Parents Speak Out
- March 4, 2002: Westerfield Affidavits To Remain Sealed
- March 3, 2002: Experts Try To Determine Danielle's Cause Of Death
- March 1, 2002: Body Found Believed To Be Danielle's
- February 28, 2002: Danielle van Dam Web Site
- March 1, 2002: Autopsy Confirms Body Found Is Danielle's
- February 27, 2002: Search Warrants Show Police Sought Child Porn
- February 27, 2002: Danielle's Parents Respond To Neighbor's Arraignment
- February 26, 2002: Trial Set For Accused South Bay Boys' Killer
- February 26, 2002: Westerfield To Be Charged With Murder
- February 25, 2002: Danielle's Blood Found On Neighbor's Clothing
- February 21, 2002: Search For Danielle Extends To Mexico
- February 21, 2002: Marines Assist In Search For Danielle
- February 20, 2002: Governor Shows His Support For Van Dam Family
- February 20, 2002: Police Use Old Murder For Clues In Van Dam Case
- February 20, 2002: Crime Lab Personnel Return To Van Dam Home
- February 18, 2002: Search Continues For Danielle van Dam
- February 15, 2002: Police: Break In Missing Girl Case Expected
- February 14, 2002: See Danielle van Dam Video Montage
- February 14, 2002: Police Search Neighbor's House Again
- February 13, 2002: Marc Klaas Lends Support To Van Dam Family
- February 13, 2002: Reward For Danielle Reaches $185,000
- February 13, 2002: 'Better Trained' Dog Joins Danielle Search
- February 12, 2002: Rewards Grow In Search Of Missing Girl
- February 11, 2002: Missing Girl's Family Offers $25,000 Reward
- February 8, 2002: Police: Westerfield Had Child Porn
- February 8, 2002: Investigation Operations Base Leaves North County
- February 8, 2002: Search For Danielle Goes Nationwide
- February 7, 2002: Parents Plead For Help Finding Missing Daughter
- February 5, 2002: Police Question Neighbor In Missing Girl Case
- February 4, 2002: Parents Plead For Daughter's Safe Return
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