Westerfield Jury Begins Penalty Deliberations

A six-man, six-woman jury began deliberations on whether David Westerfield should be executed or imprisoned for life without parole for kidnapping and murdering 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeff Dusek told jurors not to be swayed by sympathy for the Westerfield family and instead to bring back a recommendation for death to “protect the weak and the young.”

Defense attorney Robert Boyce said Westerfield, who had no previous criminal record except a drunk-driving conviction, does not fit the “worst of the worst” of killers who deserve to be executed.