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
SAN DIEGO -- 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.
"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.
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.
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.
![]() WESTERFIELD TRIAL DANIELLE VAN DAM 1994-2002 E-mail: daniellevandam @yahoo.com Send mail to: P.O. Box 501515 San Diego, 92150 |
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 |
Previous Stories:
- July 3, 2002: Computer Porn Associated With Westerfield's Son
- July 3, 2002: Prosecution Wraps Up, For Now
- July 2, 2002: Dog Handler 'Bursting With Pride' After Westerfield Arrest
- July 1, 2002: Prosecution Asks For One More Witness
- June 28, 2002: Westerfield Defense Concerned Over Being 'Ambushed'
- June 27, 2002: Closed-Door Hearing Held In Westerfield Trial
- 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 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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