Before the hearing, having never seen or heard DW personally, I had a very different mental image of him. From things MG intimated about him he seemed to be the intelligent and very well reasoned type, able to convince her that she had been manipulated and deceived by Chad and Lori, point out scriptures that refuted their teachings, and convince her that she needed to go to the police with what she knew.
However, during his testimony I saw a completely different person. He seemed rather naive, unknowing and inexperienced with manipulation and deception (e.g. JP seemed to be taking advantage of him and carefully manipulating him to get the testimony he wanted), and rather child-like. He also seemed to struggle with understanding what was said or being asked of him. It was clear he had a hearing impairment, and I'm certain that had an influence, but it also seemed like it went beyond that, as though he was also struggling with somewhat diminished mental faculties.
Let me be clear, I don't say any of this to be mean or judgemental, just that he came across as having some challenges he is dealing with. I say this because I believe Chad also saw his weaknesses and tried to take advantage of them himself. I don't know how much or to what extent, but he had been pulled in to this group to some degree and Chad had at least tried to convince him to buy the property nearby. I believe Chad is still trying to exercise an influence over him. At the beginning of JP's cross examination you can see Chad look at DW and give a couple of slight nods of the head, as if encouraging him. Later, when JP asks if there are three bedrooms in Lori's townhome, you again see Chad look up at DW, smile, and give a barely perceptible nod or two, whereupon DW answers "yes" and Chad looks down again. A bit later and JP asks DW if he is aware of Chad's writings, and Chad again makes eye contact with him and nods, DW asks JP to repeat the question and as he does so Chad breaks eye contact to look downward and tilts his head upward in an apparent look of grandiose piety. And then at the end when JP thanked him Chad again looked at DW and nodded his head vigorously in approval.
I don't know if it's all some kind of coaching, influencing effort, manipulation, attempt at befriending him like "You did good and I'm on your side" type of thing, or what, but it did strike me as noteworthy as I can't recall observing Chad doing the like with any other witnesses. JMO.