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Westerfield Jury: Four Days, No Decision

Jury Asks For Tape Of Westerfield Interview

POSTED: 5:35 pm PDT August 13, 2002
UPDATED: 5:49 pm PDT August 13, 2002

The jury deliberating the fate of accused child killer David Westerfield asked Tuesday to listen to a taped interview the defendant gave a police interrogation specialist, but the day ended without a verdict.

Danielle van Dam, David Westerfield
WESTERFIELD TRIAL
DANIELLE VAN DAM 1994-2002
The six men and six women on the panel have now deliberated 17 hours over four days without reaching a verdict.

As they began their fourth day of deliberations, the jury asked Judge William Mudd for the tape and transcript of Westerfield's interview with detective Paul Redden two days after the disappearance of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam of Sabre Springs.

In the Feb. 4 interview, Westerfield makes a reference to "we" when describing his 550-mile trip through San Diego and Imperial counties on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3.

The defendant told authorities he took the drive by himself.

Westerfield, a self-employed design engineer, is charged with murder, kidnapping and misdemeanor possession of child pornography.

Video
The 50-year-old defendant could face the death penalty if the jury finds true a special circumstance allegation that the murder of his 7-year-old neighbor happened during a kidnapping.

Also Tuesday, Mudd denied a motion on behalf of KFMB Radio assistant producer River Stillwood to allow her back into his courtroom.

To read more about the motion, and the judge's eight-minute lecture on media ethics, Click Here.

The trial, which started June 4, included 23 days of testimony, 98 witnesses and 199 court exhibits.

According to search warrant affidavits made public Monday after six months under seal, Westerfield admitted to police that he dropped off bedding and other items at a Poway dry cleaners two days after Danielle disappeared.

The warrants and affidavits had been sealed since shortly after the girl's mother discovered her missing from her bed the morning of Feb. 2. Last week, the 4th District Court of Appeal ordered the documents unsealed.


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