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CNN Live Today

Jury Deciding Westerfield's Fate

Aired August 09, 2002 - 12:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Jurors in San Diego get back at it today, deciding whether to find David Westerfield guilty, or return him to being a free man. He is the neighbor accused of kidnapping and murdering 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez is keeping a watch at the courthouse. Thelma, they are still at it, aren't they?

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they sure are, Fredricka. When they resume deliberations today, they are going to have a huge job ahead of them. After all, this trial has lasted 27 days, 100 witnesses testified in this case, and there was about 199 different exhibits that were entered into evidence, so a lot to consider. Now, one of the most dramatic moments in this trial came yesterday during the prosecution's rebuttal argument, lead prosecutor Jeff Dusek telling jurors that if, by some miracle, he could bring Danielle van Dam back to life to testify, that she would point a finger at David Westerfield as her killer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF DUSEK, PROSECUTOR: I told you with my hair, you know where you found it. I told you with the orange fiber that you found on my choker (ph), and where you found it. I told you with the blue fibers that were on my naked body, and where you found it. I told you with my fingerprints, and I told you with my blood. Please listen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUTIERREZ: And with that dramatic statement, the case went to the jury. Again, they will begin their second day of deliberations today. They were supposed to go just four days a week, yesterday the judge said that he was told by the jurors that they wanted to deliberate five days a week. A lot of work to do -- Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much Thelma.

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