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Witness: Brenda 'Dirty Danced' With Westerfield

Defense Testimony May Wrap Up This Week

POSTED: 7:35 am PDT July 8, 2002
UPDATED: 4:35 pm PDT July 8, 2002

Brenda van Dam and the man accused of murdering her 7-year-old daughter danced together the night before the girl was discovered missing, two defense witnesses testified Monday in David Westerfield's trial.

Danielle van Dam, David Westerfield
WESTERFIELD TRIAL
DANIELLE VAN DAM 1994-2002
"Mr. Westerfield and Mrs. van Dam were dancing," said Patricia LePage, describing the scene at Dad's Cafe the night of Feb. 1.

Since the prosecution introduced hair and fibers found at the defendant's house and motor home, the defense has tried to show the evidence could have been transferred in some other way, such as dancing.

The 50-year-old defendant would face the death penalty if convicted of kidnapping and killing Danielle van Dam, who lived two houses away in Sabre Springs. He is also charged with misdemeanor possession of child pornography.

In testimony near the beginning of the trial, Brenda van Dam told the court she did not dance with Westerfield.

Patricia Le Page

But LePage (pictured, right) said that van Dam rubbed her hips and chest against Westerfield during several dances together, recalling the movie "Dirty Dancing." That was just part of what LePage described as "frisky" behavior exhibited by van Dam that night.

LePage said that she was in a smoking lounge at Dad's with her daughter, Cherokee Youngs, when van Dam came in and struck up a conversation with the younger woman.

"Well, she did ask my daughter if she liked girls," LePage said when asked to describe the conversation. Van Dam, she said, asked Youngs if she wanted to come to her house for a party later that night.

Youngs testified about the encounter last week.

Earlier Monday, another woman testified she saw Westerfield dance with van Dam.

Video

Glennie Nasland, who began her testimony last week, said that she was on the dance floor and saw the pair turn toward each other while dancing with other people.

Nasland, who described herself as a friend of Westerfield, said she watched them for 20 seconds before they turned away again.

Westerfield's attorney, Steven Feldman, told Judge William Mudd that his case may be completed by the end of the week.

Insect expert David Faulkner is expected to testify about how long the victim's body may have been in the East County before volunteer searchers found it on Feb. 27.

Feldman has said Westerfield would have had no opportunity to dispose of the body because he was under constant police surveillance from Feb. 4 until his arrest Feb. 22.


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