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.

[UCANSEE2]

CONsider it done. Welcome "the-gooroo" to the DW/VD threads !! ! !! ! !

[the Deejay]

Okay, thanks. I've been too locked-in to this trial to visit the other boards.

[UCANSEE2]

fussybutt? LOL Everyone is so creative..

Yeah, I admired it right off the bat.

[hoosiermama]

WIth knowlege they were not threats. Other affairs---male/male- or maybe "secret" for some other reason..might be a threat to her????

Just speculating.....

[BunnySlippers]

Hmmmmmm..... In MY OPINION, you are probably right. The question now would be, did this 'unhappiness', wife-swapping, jealously, conflict going on, between Barb, Damon, Brenda , HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH DANEILLE's DEATH ?

My opinion is that Damon did not have a hand in his daughter's death. In fact, mis-informed males who think their marriage can be saved by swinging are really (IMO) not lusting after their own daughter. On the other hand, a neighbor who thinks children are sex objects may well see a 7 year old as a target.

[UCANSEE2]

I have been wondering if Damon isn't/wasn't having an affair at the time????...Was not actually at home with the children???.Did not really have a business trip????

First 'RUMORS' were (I believe coming from the neighbors being interviewed by local press) were that Damon was a few blocks away 'hooking-up' with a female friend.

[Mrs.O'Strategery]

However, if Brenda was jealous of Barb why in the world would she go out to a bar two weekends in a row with her? Why would she bring her home to her husband? I don't really see Brenda doing it just to save her marriage. From the testimony I heard...the propisitions at the bar, the dancing, etc. She seemed like a pretty willing participant. That is the golden question, did it have anything to do with Danielle's death? IMO, it could just as much as the porn found on DW's computer.

[the Deejay]

My "speculation" is; I think Brenda has had time to sort through all this & suspects Damon *did* have something to do with Danielle's death. And/or Brenda has suspicions Damon had been molesting Danielle.

Well, that's what "I" believe.

[BunnySlippers]

I don't really see Brenda doing it just to save her marriage.

I realize that this is NOT scientific at all ... but women do a lot of stupid things for men. And they live to regret it later.

[UCANSEE2]

I've been too locked-in to this trial to visit the other boards.

YOU and ME, and about 113 others.

[Mrs.O'Strategery]

I know women do stupid things for men. But I'm asking myself; Did Brenda go into that bar that night and say to Cherokee Young, "Do you like girls?" for her husband? I just don't see it.

[UCANSEE2]

My opinion is that Damon did not have a hand in his daughter's death. In fact, mis-informed males who think their marriage can be saved by swinging are really (IMO) not lusting after their own daughter.

I would agree.

EXCEPT, Brenda was the one out arranging for sex. Rumor had it that SHE was quite the swinger.

That was TWO WEEKENDS in row she went to DAD'S. She admitted she went to San Francisco to go to LESBIAN BARS.

Now, where was DAMON during all this?

[hoosiermama]

Why didn't Barb testify? Does she hold some kind of state job licence that could be in danger if she admits to certain actions? In contrast, taking the "fifth" would make her look really bad.....So why doesn't the defense call her....
Isn't she the one the first "spilled the beans" regarding the 'Pizza Party"? What does she know and when did she know it? Was there a cat fight between Brenda and Damon brewing when the guest left? What DOES she know??? Does she tell the truth???????

[UCANSEE2]

I don't really see Brenda doing it just to save her marriage.

I realize that this is NOT scientific at all ... but women do a lot of stupid things for men. And they live to regret it later.

AND once again I have to agree with you. Brenda could have been doing just that. Anything to be desired, to be loved, or think that is what you are getting.

OTOH, MEN do stupid things just to have SEX with WOMEN, or DATE WOMEN, however you wish to put it.

[Mrs.O'Strategery]

Barb's the big ole' question mark in this case! I'm betting she is a firecracker and neither side can predict what damage or credibility her testimony would give them.

[UCANSEE2]

Why didn't Barb testify? Does she hold some kind of state job licence that could be in danger if she admits to certain actions? In contrast, taking the "fifth" would make her look really bad.....So why doesn't the defense call her.... Isn't she the one the first "spilled the beans" regarding the 'Pizza Party"? What does she know and when did she know it? Was there a cat fight between Brenda and Damon brewing when the guest left? What DOES she know??? Does she tell the truth?

This is the epitome of this case. After WEEKS of TRIAL, and the PROSECUTION has essentially finished, and the DEFENSE is supposedly near completion,

THERE ARE STILL TOO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS !! !! ! ! ! !

[juzcuz]

I have a question:

What happens when a witness is impeached? When impeachment occurs does that mean that that witness is shown to be a liar, their testimony unreliable? ..... Then what?????

[BunnySlippers]

That was TWO WEEKENDS in row she went to DAD'S. She admitted she went to San Francisco to go to LESBIAN BARS.

Yeah, what was that thing about the "lesbian bars"? What context was it presented in ... do you know? Did she say she had been or wanted to go? Lord knows they are all over So Cal as well as SF!

[the Deejay]

"THERE ARE STILL TOO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS !! !! ! ! ! !"

BOY!! You got that RIGHT!!

[fussybutt]

Since this man has not yet been convicted on the porn charge why is it even being allowed as evidence in the murder trial. Even though it would go to motive for murder, the law says he is presumed innocent until proven guilty of any criminal charge. I would have thought his attorney could have this so called "evidence" thrown out of the murder trial because he has not been tried for this and is charged; trial and/or conviction is still pending.