BREAKING: BRENDA VAN DAM DANCED WITH WESTERFIELD: (Modern Day Westside Story?)7-9-02 Trial Watch

KFMB ^ | July 9, 2002 | KFMB

[FresnoDA]

WITNESSES SAY BRENDA VAN DAM DANCED WITH DAVID WESTERFIELD

(07-08-2002) - Three defense witnesses testified Monday that Brenda van Dam and David Westerfield, the man accused of murdering 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, danced together the night before the girl was discovered missing.

"Mr. Westerfield and Mrs. van Dam were dancing," said Patricia LePage, describing the scene at Dad's Cafe and Steakhouse the night of Feb. 1.

Since the prosecution introduced hair and fibers found at the defendant's house and motorhome, 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 said 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 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.

Duane Blake, a fisherman who said he goes to Dad's a couple times a week, said he caught a glimpse of the defendant dancing with van Dam.

Blake confirmed an interview with the District Attorney's Office, in which he described their dancing as, "huggy, huggy." He testified he even thought Westerfield might be trying to pick up on van Dam.

Earlier Monday, another woman testified she saw Westerfield dance with Danielle's mother.

Glennie Nasland, who began her testimony last week, said 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.

In other testimony Monday, Dave Laspisa said that going to the desert to look for friends, and without bringing an all-terrain vehicle, was not an unusual activity for Westerfield.

The witness, a self-employed Poway man, said he's known the defendant for 15 years and has camped with him near the Imperial County community of Glamis for 10 years.

The witness was one of several people who testified as the defense began to move away from what happened at a Poway night spot the night before Danielle was discovered missing Feb. 2 to Westerfield's weekend wanderings.

Westerfield's attorney, Steven Feldman asked Laspisa to explain why someone would avoid Interstate 8 while taking a motorhome to the desert. Laspisa said high winds and black ice were common on that route, which traverses altitudes over 4,000 feet.

Heather Mack, a security guard at Coronado Cays, testified that she saw Westerfield drive his motorhome into the exclusive neighborhood in the afternoon or evening hours of Feb. 3.

Mack said Westerfield smiled and waved at her as he drove past her security kiosk, but she never saw him again.

The witness told Dusek that she originally told a police officer that she "vaguely remembered" seeing the defendant's recreational vehicle.

Glen Seebruch, an engineering manager at Nokia, testified earlier that Westerfield called him the morning of Feb. 1 and told him he planned to go to the desert that weekend.

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.

[BunnySlippers]

that wonderful summary, again. I think this should help provide some information to the LATE AFTERNOON people. The ones that probably don't get to see the TRIAL on LIVE TV.

I'm happy to say I watch it on TV!!! :)

[Freedom2specul8]

Wow, you've been lurking longer than some of us!! I would love to hear your thoughts about what's going on sometime, even if it's freepmail.

[John Jamieson]

I particularly like "SIMILAR TO", or "CAN"T BE EXCLUDED". Now that's proof beyond a reasonable doubt!

The best one today was "May, or may not be, from the same source" What does that mean?

[fnord]

#904 (author unknown)

wasn't that the one the post that made the accusations?

I am divining the content of the message from the responses, but without substantiation, or an apology, I gather the author stands by the post.

But I don't know who said it, or who it was directed at. Any help?

[BunnySlippers]

I think that some small children maybe abused, particularly in northern europe and asia, but most of it is simulated.
In any case I think it has NO value in determining who killed Danielle. The real dangers to Danielle were much closer to home.....in her home in fact.

Frankly, I think that the depravity of those into child porn knows no bounds. They are really insideous and, yes, dangerous people. I think DW is absolutely vile for collecting this stuff.

[Spunky]

Then, why did he have to demand that fiber from her necklace today in court?

For some reason she didn't have that particular fiber available in court. Everytime Feldman would ask a question the prosecution would object and it would be sustained. The Judge got perturbed at Feldman then. (I am not sure what that was all about) Bottom line, Feldman then asked her if she would have it in court tomorrow? The answer was; "Yes."

[Valpal1]

I think that some small children maybe abused, particularly in northern europe and asia, but most of it is simulated.

And you are completely wrong, John. Most of it is not simulated. I would also like to point out that an adult even simulating sex acts with a child,(i.e., without penetration), is infact still engaged in molestation and sexual exploitation with a minor who cannot by law or common sense, give consent either to the act or to the simulation of the act.

The Catholic Church (and others) is only the tip of the iceberg concerning pedophilia in America. Wake up.

[UCANSEE2]

I thought you were saying that since DW's side door had been left open anyone trying to frame him could have gone in and done laundry explaining the fiber evidence.

I will clarify and we can go from there.

There are several scenarios that will fit.

(1) Damon molests and accidently or not, kills Danielle
He has to get her body out of the house. She is naked. He needs a patsy. He has had runins with DW over the MH being parked in the neighborhood and suspects DW may turn them in for smoking pot. He runs over to DW's house (DW ain't home) and breaks in the garage side door. He takes a blanket, some towels, and runs back to his house. Wraps Danielle up in this stuff, throws her in the van and drives out to dump her body. He knows where a obscure dump site is that many people use. Take it from there....

(2)A thief is breaking into neighborhood houses via the garage door.

OOOOOOOOHHHHH. I like #2.

He looks for houses that look vacant. He breaks into DW's garage. Finds a few items (blanket, towel) but DW is coming home. Runs out and down the street. Finds the VD home looking vacant. No cars in the drive. Brenda is gone, Damon is gone humping some neighbor chick while Brenda is out slutting around.

So, he breaks in the back sliding door. Finds Danielle wandering around looking for Damon. Knocks her out. Carries her to his vehicle, wraps her in the blanket he found, and takes her off to rape her, then dump her lifeless body.

[BunnySlippers]

But I don't know who said it, or who it was directed at. Any help?

Fnord, it was me and I did not direct it at any specific person. You are seeing hysteria at work.

[theirjustdue]

See what I mean? You have to insert your foot in your mouth every time.

Please avoid kindling another flame war, Kim.

[John Jamieson]

There is no evidence that he collected anything or even ever saw it. If you know of any such evidence, please produce it.

[UCANSEE2]

I'm happy to say I watch it on TV!!! :)

May I ask, is it Court TV?

[Freedom2specul8]

Spec and I were discussing the son...and how the defense has something they are holding back on that's as good as a confession. I wish I would have saved our posts. THAT is the issue that has caused me to have doubt. Not the beerdrinking joint smokin partiers. There are plenty of nonpartiers who molest kids...as you well know. One doesn't cause the other.. I'm going to try to find out posts about the son, the child porn and explosive info they're holding back on and repost them to see what you think.

[juzcuz]

OK--so Danielle had 19 blue/gray fibers on her or on body sheet. She also had 10-20+ white Poly/cotton from the ME sheet. The amount of blue/gray leeds me to assume that she must have been wrapped in something blue/gray that was Nylon.

Now I know that manufacturers produce reams and more reams of the same type and color fibers to producers who make various types of nylon items: football jerseys, travel bags nylon in tennis shoes.

So fibers that come from a 100%nylon gray/blue "TRAVEL BAG" would be similar to fibers that come from say a 100%nylon gray/blue "SNOWBOARD BAG" Check out "Burton Bags"

http://www.pagelinx.com/skistop/burtonbags2.htm

Notice, the blue/gray colors available..... It's possible that Danielle was transported in a nylon snowboard bag, which left trace fibers on her. I wonder if VanDam's or Libby's have snowboard bags?

[Freedom2specul8]

Yes, I agree.. ucansee2 said basically the same thing.. 10-4 good buddy.

[fnord]

this thread is drifting ... but is not the Catholic Church crisis much more a homosexual problem than pedophilia (percentage wise)?

[cubreporter]

Please accept my apology. I didn't mean anything directed at you. I think I probably got into the wrong post. No way did I mean to offend you. Like I said...I need to be paying more attention...am so sorry. Really. hopefully, I will get this down pat soon so if I offend anyone...please accept my apology. Thank you.

[fnord]

it was me and I did not direct it at any specific person. You are seeing hysteria at work.

So it was a blanket indictment of the 'need more evidence' crowd? Like me?

[John Jamieson]

Well I guess I wasn't specific enough again. I was answering child porno questions and now you're on the general child abuse.

Would you say it was child abuse to bring drug dealers and swingers into your home. Do you think these people could qualify to adopt a child?

[UCANSEE2]

Author was Bunny Slippers and it was a comment about a comparison of DW's supposed Child Porn, and the VD's swinging, and some other stuff I don't remember.

Best just to ignore and forget.