DA To Seek Death Penalty Against Westerfield
Westerfield Accused Of Kidnapping, Killing Danielle Van Dam
POSTED: 7:31 am PDT April 25,
2002
UPDATED: 5:41 pm PDT April 25,
2002
SAN DIEGO -- Prosecutors in the Danielle van Dam murder case announced Thursday that they will seek the death penalty against her accused killer.
David Westerfield, a neighbor of the 7-year-old girl reported missing from her Sabre Springs home Feb. 2, is charged with murder and the special circumstance allegation of murder during a kidnapping.
Brenda and Damon van Dam's daughter was the subject of a wide-ranging search that lasted nearly a month before the second-grader's body was found among some trash along a rural Dehesa road on Feb. 27. Westerfield, who lived two doors away from the van Dams, was questioned almost immediately in connection with the girl's disappearance. Police kept Westerfield under surveillance and initially arrested him Feb. 22 on suspicion of kidnapping. He was charged with Danielle's murder a day before the body was found. During a hearing last week, the judge reaffirmed the gag order placed on attorneys and witnesses in the days following Westerfield's arrest, and extended it until the trial, set for May 17. Mudd broadened the order to include any county employee who may have anything to do with the case, including those who work in his courtroom. Mudd ordered television crews to stay out of the north corridor on the third floor of the downtown county courthouse while pretrial proceedings are under way. An exception was granted for members of the news media covering other cases. The judge has said he wants to work out a plan to allow for live pool television and radio coverage of the trial. Westerfield's attorneys, who have suggested wrongdoing by police, were granted access to the names, addresses and phone numbers of people involved in two complaints against an unnamed San Diego police officer. The attorneys allege San Diego police detectives improperly questioned their client and held him against his will when he was not technically under arrest. The judge is expected to hear arguments on pretrial motions the week of May 6.
 DANIELLE VAN DAM 1994-2002 DISCUSSION  Share your feelings, thoughtsEmail: daniellevandam @yahoo.com Send mail to: P.O. Box 501515 San Diego, 92150 |
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Previous Stories:
- April 18, 2002: Judge Reviews Cops' Files In Van Dam Murder Case
- 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
- 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: 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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