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CNN Live Today

In Danielle Van Dam Case, Jurors Have Been at It For Over a Week

Aired August 19, 2002 - 13:40   ET

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

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Jurors in San Diego have been at it for over a week now, and still the parents of Danielle Van Dam and the man accused of killing her wait for a verdict.
CNN's James Hattori is keeping watch outside the courthouse.

James, is this our first indication that this might be a hung jury?

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol, there has been a lot of speculation as to whether or not there will be a hung jury in this case. But at this moment, it appears the jury is not deadlocked. We are told by the judge this morning that they are in fact rereading some testimony from the eight-week trial, specifically about the time of death of 7-year-old Danielle Van Dam. The judge also says that that rereading should go into the afternoon.

Also this morning Judge Mud denied a motion by an attorney representing members of the local media. They were seeking the release of transcripts from various hearings that were closed to the media. Now the judge made it clear over this trial that he has not been pleased with some of the media reports, newspaper, radio and TV, saying he cannot rely on the good discretion of the media.

In fact, as has been reported, he has barred producer of radio host here in San Diego from attending the future court proceedings. The testimony they are looking at, rereading this morning, is that of an entomologist, a bug expert, who is important because his testimony gives insight into the time of death of Danielle Van Dam. That expert puts it at around mid February. The defense says that's important, because they say that that gives Mr. Westerfield an alibi of sorts because he was already under police surveillance at that time.

Now the prosecution has its own expert, that was introduced during the trial, and that expert put the time of death at shortly after Van Dam's disappearance, around February 2nd. So the jury is having to weigh this conflicting evidence. They are rereading that material right now.

And we should also note, Carol, that it was only last Friday that --

LIN: All right, did we lose signal from San Diego? Our apologies, James Hattori in the midst of his report. We are still waiting for the verdict in the David Westerfield case there.

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