Westerfield Computer Had 85 Questionable Images
Prosecution Believes Material Provides Motive For Crime
POSTED: 11:42 am PDT June 26, 2002
UPDATED: 2:53 pm PDT June 26, 2002
SAN DIEGO -- A police computer expert testified Wednesday that 85 sexually oriented images of underage females were found on computer equipment belonging to David Westerfield, who is accused of killing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.
Computer forensic examiner James Watkins said that the images were among at least 8,000 deemed to be pornographic. There were a total of 100,000 images on the computer, but many were simply the icons and arrows which make operating systems work.Westerfield, 50, is charged with murder and kidnapping in the death of Danielle. He is also charged with misdemeanor possession of child pornography. The prosecution believes the sexually oriented material provided the motive for the crime.Under cross-examination by defense attorney Steven Feldman, Watkins conceded that what he called "questionable images" made up only a small portion of what was discovered."What percent is 85 out of 100,000?" Feldman asked."Obviously less than one percent," Watkins answered."What percentage is 85 of 8,000?" Feldman inquired."About one percent."Watkins told Feldman he found "borderline" images in which he could not be certain the females depicted were under the age of 18. He said he gave the benefit of the doubt to the defendant in those cases.Feldman tread on dangerous territory after receiving a tongue-lashing from Superior Court Judge William Mudd at the end of the day Tuesday.
"You've represented that there's just 13 images that can be found against your client," Mudd said angrily to Feldman, after jurors were excused."Believe it or not, this is a search for the truth," the judge told Feldman. "And the truth is there are more than 13 images."In his comments after the jury was excused, Mudd said that he and the two sides had spent days in pretrial hearings to determine which images would be allowed into evidence. At first, only those samples shown Tuesday would have been allowed. Now, because Feldman has "opened the door," all the images discovered on the computer equipment are in evidence, he said. Mudd told Feldman he had purposely structured the prosecution's case to "minimize the prejudicial impact" on Westerfield. "I didn't mean to open any doors," Feldman said. "If I did, it was inadvertent." "The door has been opened like a barnyard," Mudd retorted. The images jurors saw included several photos of nude females, who appeared to be teenagers. Others were drawings of girls. Three were movies, each with females screaming. Three female jurors dabbed at their eyes at the end of the screening. Earlier, a police criminalist testified that orange and blue fibers discovered in Westerfield's laundry also were found on Danielle's body.
The discovery is significant because hairs from the girl and hairs from the van Dam family dog also were found in the laundry and bedding, Jennifer Shen testified.The long orange acrylic fiber was found in hair tangled in the child's choker necklace, Shen said. She said she also found a short blue nylon fiber in Danielle's hair after it was cut off during an autopsy.Shen said more orange fibers were found in Westerfield's home than blue fibers. More than 20 orange fibers were discovered on items in the defendant's washing machine, and as many as 100 each in laundry found inside and on top of a dryer. More were found on a pillow case from the defendant's master bedroom."They definitely caught my attention right away," Shen told jurors. "I had seen a bright orange fiber on the victim."She compared the fibers under a microscope, then sent them to Sacramento for further testing.She concluded that the fiber found in the hair tangled in the necklace "could share a common source with the fiber in the bedding and the laundry."
Of the blue fibers, Shen (pictured, right) said 19 were found around Danielle's body and 10 were discovered in the defendant's laundry.Prosecutor George Clarke then asked her about the significance of the discoveries.Shen noted the orange fiber found in the necklace was knotted in hair and covered with debris. She said she believed that meant the fiber was on the body when it was placed near Dehesa Road."I also think it's reasonable to conclude the fiber came in contact with her body at or near the time of death," Shen said.
![]() WESTERFIELD TRIAL DANIELLE VAN DAM 1994-2002 E-mail: daniellevandam @yahoo.com Send mail to: P.O. Box 501515 San Diego, 92150 |
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Of the blue fibers, Shen (pictured, right) said 19 were found around Danielle's body and 10 were discovered in the defendant's laundry.Prosecutor George Clarke then asked her about the significance of the discoveries.Shen noted the orange fiber found in the necklace was knotted in hair and covered with debris. She said she believed that meant the fiber was on the body when it was placed near Dehesa Road."I also think it's reasonable to conclude the fiber came in contact with her body at or near the time of death," Shen said. Previous Stories:
- June 25, 2002: Criminalist: Fibers Connect Westerfield, Danielle
- June 25, 2002: Damon Van Dam Kicked Out Of Courtroom
- June 25, 2002: Day 12: Danielle-Like Hairs Found
- June 24, 2002: Criminalist: Blond Hairs On Westerfield Bed Sheets
- June 24, 2002: Hair Like Danielle's Found In Westerfield Bed Sheets
- June 21, 2002: DNA Expert: Danielle's Blood Found In RV
- June 20, 2002: DNA Expert: Danielle's Blood In Westerfield RV, Jacket
- June 20, 2002: Specialist: Danielle's Prints In Westerfield Motor Home
- June 19, 2002: Laundry, Videotapes, Lubricant Seized From Westerfield Home
- June 19, 2002: Trial Focuses On Evidence Collected By Police
- June 18, 2002: Forensics Specialist Collected Hairs, Necklace
- June 18, 2002: Dry Cleaners: Westerfield Distant, Rushed
- June 14, 2002: Judge Tries To Inject Levity Into Westerfield Trial
- June 14, 2002: Park Rangers: Westerfield Overpaid, Shows Wallet
- June 12, 2002: Westerfield Interview Heard; Neighbor Says Blinds Shut
- June 12, 2002: Westerfield Trial: KGTV Reporter Takes Stand
- June 11, 2002: Van Dam Friends Take Stand; Westerfield 'Creepy'
- June 7, 2002: Westerfield Trial Focuses On Van Dam Lifestyle
- June 6, 2002: Day 3: Brenda Van Dam, Dad's Bar
- June 6, 2002: Brenda Van Dam Testifies In Westerfield Trial
- June 6, 2002: Day 2: Damon Van Dam, Autopsy Photos
- June 5, 2002: Damon Van Dam Takes Witness Stand
- June 5, 2002: Cases Outlined In Westerfield Trial
- June 4, 2002: Westerfield Trial Starts; Witnesses Take Stand
- June 3, 2002: Westerfield Trial Set To Get Under Way
- May 31, 2002: Westerfield Trial Jury Selection Complete
- May 31, 2002: Westerfield Trial Scheduled To Start Tuesday
- May 30, 2002: Jury Selection In Westerfield Trial Enters Third Day
- May 28, 2002: Jury Selection Continues In Westerfield Trial
- May 20, 2002: Experts Question Speed Of Westerfield Trial
- May 17, 2002: Court To Interview 262 Potential Jurors
- May 17, 2002: Westerfield Jury Selection Under Way
- May 16, 2002: Westerfield Jury Selection Set To Begin
- May 16, 2002: Westerfield Trial Jury Questionnaire
- May 15, 2002: Judge May Make Rulings In Westerfield Case
- May 13, 2002: Westerfield Pre-Trial Still Closed
- May 10, 2002: Westerfield Trial: Pretrial Motions Remain Closed
- May 8, 2002: Reporters Called In Westerfield Trial
- May 8, 2002: DA: Danielle Was Suffocated By Westerfield
- May 7, 2002: Pretrial Motions Start In Westerfield Case
- May 2, 2002: Westerfield Pretrial Motions To Remain Sealed
- May 1, 2002: Court: Westerfield Affidavits To Remain Sealed
- April 25, 2002: DA To Seek Death Penalty Against Westerfield
- April 19, 2002: Westerfield Given Limited Access To Police Records
- April 18, 2002: Press Kept Out Of Van Dam Murder Case
- 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: Documents: Dogs Alerted Police To Westerfield
- 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 15, 2002: Westerfield To Stand Trial In Van Dam Murder
- March 13, 2002: Westerfield Hearing Takes A Break
- March 12, 2002: Testimony: Police Find Porn On Westerfield's Computer
- March 11, 2002: Witness: Danielle's Body Found Nude, Decomposing
- March 8, 2002: Gag Order Issued In Van Dam Murder Case
- March 7, 2002: Police Acted Inappropriately Toward Westerfield
- March 4, 2002: Westerfield Affidavits To Remain Sealed
- February 27, 2002: Search Warrants Show Police Sought Child Porn
- February 27, 2002: Danielle's Parents Respond To Neighbor's Arraignment
- February 26, 2002: Van Dam Neighbor To Be Arraigned
- February 26, 2002: Westerfield To Be Charged With Murder
- February 25, 2002: Danielle's Blood Found On Neighbor's Clothing
- February 14, 2002: Police Search Neighbor's House Again
- 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 5, 2002: Police Question Neighbor In Missing Girl Case
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