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American Morning

Westerfield Sentencing Resumes

Aired September 03, 2002 - 09:19   ET

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

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It is time for the jury to get back to work today. The jury that convicted David Westerfield of killing 7- year-old Danielle van Dam must now decide whether or not he deserves life or death for the crime.
Frank Buckley following the trial in San Diego after a holiday break for the Labor Day weekend -- Frank, good morning. Where do we stand today?

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Bill. David Westerfield's friends and family members will continue to testify on his behalf, essentially asking jurors to spare his life. Last week, David Westerfield, for the first time, showed some emotion during testimony by his sister. His sister talking about some of the major family events that Westerfield endured, break ups and deaths in the family. Westerfield actually wiping away tears during that testimony. Others who worked with Westerfield or used his designs in their products also talked about how some of those products help to save lives or to make lives better.

But the most emotional portion of testimony during the penalty phase came last week during the playing of a video of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam's life, and also during the testimony of her parents, Brenda and Damon van Dam.

Jurors will continue to hear testimony today, then we expect tomorrow both the prosecution and the defense to make their final arguments to the jurors. The defense going last, then the jurors will get their instructions from Judge William Mudd, and then they will begin deliberations on whether or not that David Westerfield should face life in prison without the possibility of parole, or death -- Bill.

HEMMER: Thank you, Frank. Frank Buckley again in San Diego.

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