SAN DIEGO -- The mother of kidnap-murder victim Danielle van Dam says she is "really let down" by a delay in sentencing of David Westerfield.

WESTERFIELD TRIAL Judge William Mudd Issues Death Penalty Sentence Hear Jury's Death Penalty Recommendation Watch The Jury's Verdict Being Read Share Your Thoughts DANIELLE VAN DAM 1994-2002 Watch Danielle Video Montage E-mail: daniellevandam @yahoo.com Send mail to: P.O. Box 501515 San Diego, 92150

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Brenda: 'I'm Really Let Down' Hear From Van Dam's Attorney Judge Postpones Sentencing

Judge William Mudd Friday reluctantly postponed sentencing of the 50-year-old neighbor of the van Dam family.

The delay was granted because a required motion against the death penalty had not yet been filed by Westerfield's defense. Sentencing is now set for Jan. 3.

Brenda van Dam said after Friday's court hearing: "I am really let down by the decision, by fact that the defense wasn't prepared." She said the van Dam family wanted to put the sentencing behind them.

"We wanted to put this behind us for the holidays and it makes it difficult. We thought today would be the end," van Dam said.

The van Dam's newly-hired attorney, Gloria Allred, also made a statement after the hearing.

Allred said that the van Dams will focus on the punishment for their daughter's killer before deciding what legal options they have against him.

"One option is a civil suit against Mr. Westerfield," Allred said.

"Mr. Westerfield is a person who has represented evil in this community," Allred said. "But his evil acts are far outweighed by the kindness, the caring, of so many more San Diegans that we feel confident that the good in this world far outweighs the evil in it."

Brenda and Damon van Dam had been in the courtroom wearing buttons bearing a picture of their 7-year-old daughter. Also in the audience were several jurors who convicted Westerfield of kidnapping and killing the second-grader.

The jury recommended Westerfield die by lethal injection.