Casey Anthony: US mother on trial over toddler death

EnglishLady

Veteran Expediter
BBC News

The trial has opened in Florida of a young US woman accused of murdering her two-year-old daughter in 2008.

Prosecutors base their case on forensic evidence they say shows Casey Anthony, 25, kept Caylee Anthony's dead body in the boot of her car.

But they have no witnesses or confession linking Ms Anthony to the 2008 death, and forensic experts are unable to say how the child died.

Ms Anthony has pleaded not guilty, and says a babysitter kidnapped the child.

The trial is being held in Orlando in the US state of Florida, though jurors are being selected elsewhere due to the intense media scrutiny the case has garnered there.

Weeks to report

Her lawyers are expected to argue she was in jail when the child's body was left in a wood.

If she is found guilty of first-degree murder, she could face the death penalty.

Ms Anthony is also charged with aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child and providing false information to law enforcement.

Ms Anthony drew investigators' attention when it was learned she waited weeks to tell her mother the child was missing.

Caylee's decomposed body was found in December 2008 in a patch of woods near her house.

Ms Anthony's mother reported smelling something like a dead body emanating from the boot of Ms Anthony's car. And there, prosecutors say forensic experts found traces of chloroform.

Ms Anthony's lawyers will say the foul smell came from a bag of rotting rubbish, but prosecutors plan to offer a novel form of forensic science they say shows chemical compounds from decomposition were present in the boot.
 

bobwg

Expert Expediter
Foxnews.com Her lawyer during opening statements today in court is claiming the baby was not missing and drowned in the family pool
 

Brisco

Expert Expediter
I've been watching the Jury Selection off and on here these last couple of weeks.

Opening statements took place this morning.

Guess I turned it on about halfway through the Prosecutors opening statements. Prosecution made a strong opening statement that sounded viable and reasonable.

Last week Court TV did an interview with that defense attorney Jose Biaz (??). They came out and asked him if there's going to be any "Glove Don't Fit - You Must Acquit" theatrical drama for his opening statement. Jose Biaz said, "Wait til opening statements", with a wink here and a wink there.

This morning when the Court came back from lunch and the Defense presented their opening statement, My Gawd, the shat hit the fan!!!!

Jose Biaz's/Casey Anthony's stance is that little Caylee accidently drowned in the Family pool on June 16th. Casey Anthony had been sexually molested all her life by her father. Her and her father found Caylee dead in the pool. Her father orchestrated the cover-up. Casey was afraid of her father. Jose Biaz made a referrence about Casey growing up with her fathers "p*n*s" in her mouth all her life and that she was in fear of him and did as he told her too.

I turned the freeegin TV off and came out to my shop. I hope to hell that jury spends 11 minutes deliberating a guilty verdict, and another 4 minutes deliberating a death sentence. And Then, that Jose Biaz be disbarred from practicing Law for life.

That's all I gotta say............................:mad:
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
I wanna know if the prosecutors actually used the word "boot". :D
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
Casey Anthony has been proven to be a liar, thief, unfit mother, and a sociopath.
Her "defense" is pathetic, and the jury will agree, I'm sure, but there is NO punishment equal to the crime.
 

scottm4211

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Casey Anthony has been proven to be a liar, thief, unfit mother, and a sociopath.
Her "defense" is pathetic, and the jury will agree, I'm sure, but there is NO punishment equal to the crime.

I'll never understand why high profile lawyers flock to these cases. They must be media :censoredsign:s because I don't see her walking away from this.
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
It IS hard to understand, but the justice system is predicated on the concept of 'innocent until proven guilty', and the presumption of innocence requires as strong a defense as possible - even when no one thinks the defendant is innocent. Especially then, actually, because that's when it's easiest to make a terrible mistake and convict an innocent person. If they weren't proven guilty beyond all doubt, we can't feel absolutely sure justice was served, can we? :confused:
Given the number of 'guilty' persons later exonerated, we probably shouldn't feel absolutely sure a lot of the time, anyhow.
 

scottm4211

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I get that, and agree. I mean these high dollar lawyers that take these cases pro bono. I don't see the return for them other than fame. Most certainly don't look good, especially when their client is led away in shackles. I also doubt they do it for another other reason than the attention.
 

EnglishLady

Veteran Expediter
I get that, and agree. I mean these high dollar lawyers that take these cases pro bono. I don't see the return for them other than fame. Most certainly don't look good, especially when their client is led away in shackles. I also doubt they do it for another other reason than the attention.


and then that "attention" might not be all good .....
 
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