Private Lives-Public Trial:Are Sexual ?'s Relevant In The Van Dam Trial? (TRIAL THREAD-BARB WATCH)

Newsweek ^ | June 12, 2002 | Jamie Reno

[FresnoDA]

When asked on the witness stand why he didn't initially tell police about his activities the night Danielle disappeared, Damon van Dam answered, 'It didn't seem relevant'

June 7

[Valpal1]

I don't buy the idea that kids were exploring a motorhome whilst an adult was in and out of it loading and unloading it. Not unless they produce some witnesses who admit to it. I'd chased my own kids outta there with a broom and someone else's kids parents woulda got a phone call.

The physical evidence in the MH is still a sticking point with me. I bet every family in the neighborhood has been questioned on this point by both LE and defense investigators. So produce a kid who has played in it when Westy wasn't looking. Or was Danielle the only child whoever did such a thing?

[UCANSEE2]

No problemo. As with others, I enjoy discussing this case with those that agree and those that disagree with me. I learn the most from those that disagree.

The other children's prints...... I believe that is correct also.

Could Danielle have been in the MH with the other girls? (while it was parked at DW's)

Could Danielle have snuck into the MH? Especially if she was curious about it (agrees with DW's saying he saw her peeking into it)

It would appear that Brenda wants everyone to believe that her KIDS are kept on a leash (but the truth is they run wild because she pays no attention to them). If I was a child that age and the neighbor had a MH, I would be dying to get inside it (sorry, didn't mean the pun).

[let freedom sing]

The spokeswoman has nothing but praise for the van Dams—as people and as parents.

LOL OK, now it's your turn to answer-- refer to #123. Confirm or deny.

[winodog]

I saw the court reporters say that. I was thinking the same thing and how easy it would be for me to mess up since sometimes I go alone, but usually my son is with me.

Noone has mentioned that water weighs a lot and most people dont fill up motor home till they have to. Depending on where you are going you might not need to fill up at all.Many campgrounds supply water.

[Valpal1]

You are wrong on the prints. They were of DW girlfriend's daughter Danielle and her friend Jennifer, young teens who had been camping with him. Not of neighborhood kids.

[Mrs.Liberty]

I like to think I keep my 10 year old son on a tight leash, but once he is down the street playing and out of my sight, welll..

In fact, last year, he came home and told me how he and a few other kids were playing in a motorhome of one of his friends' neighbors..they had left it unlocked, and kids were going in and out. I put the Kabash (sp) on that, right then. At least, I thought I did. ;-)

[Valpal1]

I feel like it is all circumstantial

It IS all circumstantial. There is no witness to the disappearance and death of Danielle except the perp and the victim.

So there will never be direct evidence, no "I saw him do it". Only circumstantial evidence. And the same will be true of many murder trials (Chandra Levy) where the murder is done in secrect and without witnesses. hold-up.

[Valpal1]

It is not outside the realm of possibility that Danielle was in the RV with these young ladies checking it out

Then these young ladies can be expected to testify to such an event. And after all these months, her hair was still in the sink and trap?

[BARLF]

Geez, I haven't even unrolled it yet this spring and I am debating if I should. I usually have it strung across our front porch all summer. LOL

[C.C. Pelican Brown]

I think that motorhomes are such an enticement for kids... & if DW was entertaining his girlfriend, maybe inside his house, watching a Padres' game, having a beer... her kids go into the MH, some of the neighbor kids ask if they can come in, too...

[Valpal1]

Which means there should be witness testimony to such an event.

13-14 year old girls should have no trouble remembering if the let a cute seven year old into the MH and played with her hair.

[cyncooper]

What a coincidence, then, that of all the neighborhood kids traipsing in and out of the MH, (that may have had a security system), that Danielle vD is the only one to leave hair and blood! And the last time DW had used the MH was sometime in Dec, having stored it away from home since Nov. If the kids had access to the MH it should come out, but I don't think so...

[cyncooper]

and fingerprints...

[UCANSEE2]

So produce a kid who has played in it when Westy wasn't looking. Or was Danielle the only child whoever did such a thing?

That is the kind of testimony that would save DW. Someone that saw Danielle sneak in the MH or someone that knows she was in with permission.

From what we believe we know about the Van Dams, Danielle had snuck out of the yard before, and could have been looking for a place to hide, possibly to get away from 'daddy'.

Wouldn't the following be 'ironic':

(warning: speculation)

Danielle sneaks out of house early in AM cause 'daddy' has been molesting her.
She finds a Dw's MH a few houses away. She has seen it before, and maybe been in it. DW is going in and out loading it, so she finds a small compartment on the outside and climbs inside.

Later that day, DW gets stuck in the desert. He searches for things he can use to put under the tires to get out.He opens the compartment and finds Danielle's lifeless body. She had died due to suffocation and heat prostration. What to do? No one will believe him. He could end up in jail for something he didn't do. If he doesn't call police, he may not get caught. Either way he could go to jail. So.... You can take the rest from there.

Is this possible? As possible as all other theories about this case so far.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I am really not trying to be antagonistic, but I have a question. What evidence has been entered into the record whereby you are certain Westerfield is guilty?

Maybe I've missed it, but I don't recall anything. I am not speaking of rumor, spin and FR talk. I mean facts entered into evidence.

[cyncooper]

The prosecution went to pains today to establish that the MH was at DW's for a very brief period of time, indeed, prohibiting your scenario.

[UCANSEE2]

You are wrong on the prints.

I admitted that.

But there is also the possibility that Danielle could have been let in to see it by those girl's, before they left. She could have snuck in at some time. All possibilities and I guess until we have heard from all the witnesses (especially the defense ones) we can't settle this for sure.

[sbnsd]

Regarding DW saying "WE" while discussing driving around in the MH. The press is trying to make a big deal out of this too (KGTV in SD,), probably the same on COURT TV.

Callers to RR's show have mentioned that DW may have mentioned "WE" out of habit because he often goes camping with his son or his (ex-)girlfriend. That could be. If he did mean "We", as in "Danielle and I", what would he be thinking, that they're just out motoring around, meandering in the desert? I can't figure it out. If I had someone that I abducted in the back of my car, I don't think that I would include him in my stories of travel. "We got stuck out there in the sand." Maybe I would. I guess I just can't imagine it.

[cyncooper]

I have not stated I have concluded DW is guilty, though I lean that way due to knowledge of forensic evidence in his house, MH, and with her body. I do want to hear how he supposedly got in and out of the house, to his house, and how he transferred her to the MH. I do think that some testimony from today was brushed off as not important when I think the prosecution needed to really narrow down the time that he picked up the MH and returned to the neighborhood later that day and so on. I also think it was interesting that the defense tried that stunt with the witness and the MH shown on tv (see my post #464).

[Valpal1]

A normal person would be prostrate with grief over such a horrible incident and seek help immediately. Only those with guilty minds continually fear and try to avoid punishment and engage in cover up behavior.

Case files are full of murders made to look like accident and suicide. The number of accidents made to look like murder is slim, in most place, none.

How did her blood hair and prints come to be inside the MH, if she were already dead? Then there are the tantalizing hints of other fiber evidnece linking the two and Dahesa.

And what's your evidnece for incest? Doug Peirce's claims of a journal note? Will he be testifying for the defense? NOT!