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Westerfield Trial Could Wrap Up by Next Week

Aired July 25, 2002 - 14:16   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, live pictures from the courtroom in California. The trial of an accused child killer is not expected to last much longer. The case against David Westerfield could go to the jury sometime next week.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez is following the testimony from San Diego -- Thelma.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, you're right. The trial is underway right now, and on the stand is a rebuttal witness for the prosecution. His name the Dr. Bill Rodriguez (ph). He is a forensic anthropologist, and he is a paid witness for the prosecution.

Now, Doctor Rodriguez has testified this morning that he is generally hired to examine the remains that are severely decomposed. He renders opinions about race, age, gender, and probable cause and manner of death.

And as you may recall, Danielle van Dam's body was so badly decomposed that the medical examiner could not determine her exact cause of death or whether or not she had been sexually assaulted. Now, earlier in the trial, an expert witness for the defense, a forensic entomologist, who is an insect expert. Now, this a person who establishes time of death based on the life cycle of insects found inside the body testified that Danielle's body had not been dumped until well after David Westerfield had been placed under police surveillance.

Now, the expert testified that Danielle's body was exposed to insects no earlier than February 12th. But at that time, Westerfield was under 24-hour police watch, and so the defense says, and he told jurors, that it proves that Westerfield was not there, and that he is innocent. However, Dr. Rodriguez may establish another timeline which would contradict that of the entomologist, and a timeline that may have suggested that Westerfield was in fact involved -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So no doubt next week is going to be extremely critical. What about the rest of this week? What can happen within a day?

GUTIERREZ: Well, today the expert will continue to testify. That may go on through Monday, Kyra, because the court is dark (ph) tomorrow. Jurors will have a day off, they will have a three-day weekend. Resumes on Monday. Possibly then, a third rebuttal and closing arguments as early as Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

PHILLIPS: Thelma Gutierrez live from San Diego. Thank you.

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