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Judge threatens media after 2 jurors followed

Westerfield is accused of killing his 7-year-old neighbor Danielle van Dam.
Westerfield is accused of killing his 7-year-old neighbor Danielle van Dam.  


SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- The judge in the trial of David Westerfield threatened Thursday to curtail media coverage of the proceedings after two jurors said they were followed to their cars after court Wednesday.

The jurors reported to San Diego Superior Court Judge William Mudd that the person who followed them wrote down their license plate numbers. Mudd had promised jurors anonymity.

Mudd said officials do not know who followed the jurors but are investigating. If another such incident occurs, he said, he will order cameras and microphones out of the courtroom.

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The son of the man accused of killing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam testified that his father accessed and downloaded pornography on a computer. CNN's Thelma Gutierrez reports (July 25)

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The judge told media representatives that it is in their own best interest to make sure no further incidents occur.

Westerfield is charged with the murder of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, whose disappearance sparked nationwide coverage. Television and radio stations have been providing extensive coverage of the high-profile trial.

In court Thursday, prosecutors presented more rebuttal evidence, including the testimony of Dr. William Rodriguez III, a forensic anthropologist called to establish the time of van Dam's death.

Rodriguez testified that, based on insect infestation of the girl's corpse, he concluded that she died approximately 28 to 42 days prior to the discovery of her body February 27.

Van Dam was abducted late February 2 or early February 3.

Rodriguez's testimony contradicts that of an entomologist who testified for the defense that van Dam died February 14, well after the time authorities began keeping Westerfield under surveillance.

Court is set to resume Tuesday. Closing arguments in the trial are expected next week.

-- CNN Producer Chuck Conder contributed to this story.



 
 
 
 



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