San Diego ? The father of slain 7-year-old Danielle van Dam has been barred from the trial of her alleged killer amid concern he might try to harm the defendant.

In a closed hearing Monday, Judge William Mudd ordered Damon van Dam out of the courtroom and instructed him to stay away from the courthouse in downtown San Diego.

“As a father I can certainly appreciate the disdain to which you must hold (defendant David) Westerfield and his counsel. The fact is, however, you represent a security risk at this point in time,” Mudd told van Dam, according to a transcript released Tuesday.

Mudd said van Dam was seen peering at Westerfield through a window in the courtroom door. When a bailiff asked what he doing, he replied, “I just want to let him know I’m here.”

Van Dam also had asked detailed questions about how deputies transported Westerfield to and from trial, said sheriff’s deputy C.K. McKenzie.

“That raises a bunch of red flags. It suggests he might try to do something,” said McKenzie, one of several deputies on duty at the trial.

Westerfield, 50, is charged with kidnapping and murdering Danielle, whose nude body was found Feb. 27 three weeks after she vanished from her bedroom. He could face the death penalty if convicted.