Closed-Door Hearing Held In Westerfield Trial
Lawyers, Judge Organize Exhibits Introduced Into Evidence
POSTED: 10:17 am PDT June 27, 2002
UPDATED: 5:50 pm PDT June 27, 2002
SAN DIEGO -- With the end of the prosecution's case in sight, the judge in the David Westerfield murder trial pressed a defense attorney Thursday on what witnesses he intends to call.
"I have to believe you know where you're headed," Superior Court Judge William Mudd told defense attorney Steven Feldman.
LIVE Trial Coverage Resumes 9 a.m. Tuesday Feldman asked for and received a private meeting with Mudd to explain his intentions.
"We're not playing games on this," Feldman told the judge in open court. "We're scrambling. I really can't tell you who I intend to call." Westerfield, 50, is charged with murder and kidnapping in the February death of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam. He also is charged with misdemeanor possession of child pornography. He could get the death penalty if convicted. After a closed-door hearing on Monday, Mudd will rule on whether prosecutors can call one final witness. Once that is resolved and the testimony is or isn't heard, the defense will begin calling its witnesses. With the jury taking the day off, Deputy District Attorney Jeff Dusek complained to Mudd Thursday that he has no idea who the defense intends to call. In his opening statement, the defense attorney said the child's nude body could have been placed off a road in Dehesa as late as Feb. 16, a dozen days after his client came under 24-hour surveillance by law enforcement. Feldman said he would call a county bug expert to testify to that fact. "That is absolutely incorrect," prosecutor George Clarke said, taking issue with the characterization of the anticipated testimony. Prosecutors theorize Westerfield killed the 7-year-old and dumped her body at the East County site shortly after she disappeared Feb. 2. Volunteer searchers found the girl's decomposing body on Feb. 27. Mudd ruled that jurors would have access to two binders full of pornographic photographs -- excluding ones depicting bestiality -- during deliberations, but only if they ask to see them. Feldman made an obvious legal tactical decision when he questioned a witness about the number of child pornography images found on Westerfield's computer, the judge said. Mudd ruled before the trial that the jury would see only 13-to-17 images taken from the computers. Feldman -- in his cross-examination of police computer forensics examiner James Watkins -- seemed to suggest that those were the only images of child pornography found on the computers. Watkins testified that he found at least 8,000 images that he deemed pornographic. Of those, 85 "questionable" photos of underage females were discovered, Watkins said. "The jury was badly misled," Clarke told the judge. Mudd also denied a renewed request by Feldman to sequester the jury. Dusek said he would ask for a delay in the trial if Feldman did not provide background information on potential defense witnesses. Feldman said he could be done with his case by July 15.
![]() 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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Previous Stories:
- June 26, 2002: Porn, Motor Home Focus Of Westerfield Trial
- June 26, 2002: Jurors Tour Westerfield Motor Home
- June 26, 2002: Westerfield Computer Had 85 Questionable Images
- June 26, 2002: Porn Evidence Introduced In Westerfield Trial
- 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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