Casey Anthony TRIAL THREAD #1

[joviroxx]

And why wouldn't George bury Caylee, deep? Makes no sense.

That too! If he was planning such an elaborate coverup, he'd certainly be more thorough. Casey, on the other hand, can never look further than her hand or the moment.

What do you think the jury thought about Baez's opening statements? Do you think they bought in to it?

They might have, can't tell, especially having Baez continually drill into them how Casey doesn't have to testify during jury selection. But I think, as the trial goes on, they just won't be able to ignore the "hinkiness" of it all.

He also called 911 several times in August.

It is weird, for certain.

Yeah, that whole Kronk thing I can believe. It was all rather odd.

 

[diznygirl]

He also called 911 several times in August.

It is weird, for certain.

I'd have to know how many other people called in tips multiple times before I say this is weird. A lot of people around here were really working hard to try to find Caylee. If he saw something and was sure it was connected, I don't think it would be weird for him to keep calling until he knew it was checked out.

 

[rigs32]

But for Casey to be indicted, the state had to follow a protocol that demonstrated she was likely the person who did it. (Not sure of the ins and outs.)

George was not afforded that privilege and was thrown under the bus.

He's not charged with anything. It happens all. the. time. in criminal trials. He did it, not me. A mystery 3rd person did it. The meter reader did it. Normal, routine, happens every day.

What prevents a Defense attorney from creating figments of their client's imagination to throw off the trail of evidence?

Nothing. Happens every day. Defendants take the stand and lie every day. Defense attorneys plant seeds of doubt every day by throwing out other theories of the case.

The opening statement of the prosecution was 100% fact with questions of where she did it and a statement of some kind that it will all point to Caley. (the timeline she gave is all documented by actual evidence, btw).

It's not evidence until it's received by the court. A photograph is not in evidence unless the prosecutor does what needs to be done to get it into evidence. I've seen seasoned prosecutors stuck and have a really hard time getting evidence admitted because the witness can't/won't answer the necessary foundational questions. I said that the prosecutor's opening may not be shown in the evidence, not that it was lies.

The fact that a defense attorney can say what he said today and not be held accountable to it is disgusting. George is not on trial nor has the right to defend himself to those on the record criminal accusations.

How should he be accountable? Thrown in jail? He has the right to put forth another theory of the case. Did he choose one that might backfire or anger people? Yes, but the court can't tell him what theories are OK and which are off limits.

Well, she is there for ratings. And if someone else really and truly did that, why on earth would you keep that privileged? It's ridiculous.

Because if your client is not OK with you releasing the information and you do it anyway, you can lose your license to practice law. I wouldn't do it. I need a job.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Some of the people posting on the Orlando Sentinal Live Chat believed Baez. The ones most on Casey's side were victims of abuse themselves, so seemed more willing to believe.

Victims of Rape also believed the victim in the Duke Lacrosse Player Rape Trial. Until it was found out that she lied about it.

If her claims are not true--she is no better than the that woman who lied about being raped.

 

[msjprincess]

I'd have to know how many other people called in tips multiple times before I say this is weird. A lot of people around here were really working hard to try to find Caylee. If he saw something and was sure it was connected, I don't think it would be weird for him to keep calling until he knew it was checked out.

Calling several times isn't that weird. But the fact that he just happened to stumble across the body 4 months after his initial call is pretty weird. And if he was so positive that what he saw was a skull wouldn't he have gone back a few days later to check it out himself?

 

[JodiR]

Cheney Mason is on the defense team because he is a death qualifed attorney. Baez is not. Dorothy Sims deals with the forensics and Ann Finnell is the death penalty expert who will talk when/if there is a sentencing.

I only remember the case from the first few years... Are George & Cindy still married? Does anyone know?

This sleazebag lawyer, I know he's only doing his job, but he went straight to the gutter today. He wasn't even halfway believable. I know, trying to plant a seed of doubt, but still...

I've seen people reference Baez's inexperience? He has 3 other lawyers at the table right? Why are they not taking more of this on? They all look older than he is. I'm not familiar with any of them, I just know they are all working the case pro bono.

 

[rigs32]

Defense attorney suspecting their client is guilty - No, it's not a conflict of interest. What they cannot do is suborn perjury. If they know their client is going to get on the stand and lie, they cannot question the client. What they have to do is let the client take the stand and then leave them to give a narrative.

Can George be charged with the alleged molestation? If the statute of limitations has not run out and there is evidence, then yes. A witness only gets immunity for testimony if given in the grand jury (at least in NY).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Because if your client is not OK with you releasing the information and you do it anyway, you can lose your license to practice law. I wouldn't do it. I need a job.

I don't buy that statement at all. He is not a very good attorney if he cannot convince her to bring that out about 2.5 years ago and she would have just gotten time served.

It is a stretch. Why would you keep your client in jail for no reason at all and not facilitate their exit much much sooner? And waive their right to a speedy trial?

It isn't adding up.

 

[rigs32]

One more thing.

A lot of people watching think Baez is doing a bad job. I see much worse on a daily basis. And sometimes jurys find a defendant not guilty even if they hate their attorney. You hope they focus on the evidence. A lot of attorneys will tell jury pools that they may act like a jerk, but they are just doing their job and can they promise not to hold it against their client.

 

[rigs32]

I don't buy that statement at all. He is not a very good attorney if he cannot convince her to bring that out about 2.5 years ago and she would have just gotten time served.

It is a stretch. Why would you keep your client in jail for no reason at all and not facilitate their exit much much sooner? And waive their right to a speedy trial?

If your client doesn't want to, you can't force them to.

I've seen defendants offered probation, refuse the offer, then end up with several years in state prison after trial. Some people refuse to accept personal responsibility.

Sometimes a slam dunk case comes back not guilty because the defendant testified to a pack of lies, but the jury decides it's enough for reasonable doubt since the crime was not caught on video.

I think we're arguing about this from different perspectives. You see his pretrial actions as being inconsistent with his trial strategy. I see his trial strategy as separate from the pretrial publicity and procedure. I have to see them separately on a daily basis, it's how I'm conditioned. Normal people view the entire process as a whole as that's how real life operates.

 

[JodiR]

What is really odd about this case is that there is no physical evidence connecting Casey to the death of Caylee. No fingerprints, etc.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Defense attorney suspecting their client is guilty - No, it's not a conflict of interest. What they cannot do is suborn perjury. If they know their client is going to get on the stand and lie, they cannot question the client. What they have to do is let the client take the stand and then leave them to give a narrative.

Can George be charged with the alleged molestation? If the statute of limitations has not run out and there is evidence, then yes. A witness only gets immunity for testimony if given in the grand jury (at least in NY).

I don't speak legal-ease....

So here is the Florida statute.....
Florida Statutes of Limitations for Sexual Assault

Limitation: Prosecution for a capital felony (a person 18 or over who commits sexual battery upon a person less than 12 years of age commits a capital felony) or life felony (a person less than 18 who commits sexual battery upon a person less than 12 years of age commits a life felony) or a felony that resulted in death may be commenced at any time. Prosecution for a felony of the first degree must be commenced within four years of the offense. If the victim was under 18 when the crime occurred, the statues of limitations does not begin to run until the victim turns 18 or reports the crime to the police, whichever occurs earlier. If the victim was under 18 when the crime occurred and the offense is a first degree felony under section 794.011 (Fla. Stat. 794.011(4) – A person who commits sexual battery upon a person 12 or over, commits a 1st degree felony when: the victim is physically helpless to resist; when the offender coerces with threats to use force or violence, or retaliate; when the offender administers an intoxicating substance that incapacitates the victim; when the victim is mentally defective and the offender has reason to know this; when the victim is physically incapacitated; when the offender is a law enforcement or related officer), the prosecution may commence at any time. Prosecution for first and second degree felony of 794.011 (first degree felony stated above as (Fla. Stat. 794.011(4), second degree felony is Fla. Stat. 794.011(5) – A person who commits sexual battery upon a person 12 years of age or older, without that person’s consent, without using physical force likely to cause serious injury commits a second degree felony) may be commenced at any time if the crime is reported to law enforcement within 72 hours of the commission of the crime.
DNA Exception: No.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

What is really odd about this case is that there is no physical evidence connecting Casey to the death of Caylee. No fingerprints, etc.

Same deal for Scott Petersen.

He was convicted on circumstantial evidence. Direct evidence is not a requirement if there is enough circumstantial evidence to show that no one else but the defendant could have done it.

 

[joviroxx]

Does anyone think he had prior knowledge that this was going to be the defense?

He didn't look too shocked or horrified by the things they were saying he did to his own daughter and granddaughter. I also didn't think he looked like he was telling the truth when he said "no I did not" about molesting Casey and covering up Caylee's death. If someone accused me of such horrific, untrue things, I'd be beside myself, and he just didn't look fazed by it.

Yes, I think they were warned and advised about it

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

One more thing.

A lot of people watching think Baez is doing a bad job. I see much worse on a daily basis. And sometimes jurys find a defendant not guilty even if they hate their attorney. You hope they focus on the evidence. A lot of attorneys will tell jury pools that they may act like a jerk, but they are just doing their job and can they promise not to hold it against their client.

I think he is terrible, but not because I think he is a jerk. He seems very bumbling to me.

I think of Johny Cochran. He was a good defense attorney. Very powerful, very convincing.

Baez often seems to not know what he is doing.

 

[Belle0101]

rigs32, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the defense just need 1 juror to find reasonable doubt? In that case, I think, it would be a hung jury?

At this point, and it's still early in the proceedings, I just don't see that as outside the realm of possibility.

 

[joviroxx]

rigs32, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the defense just need 1 juror to find reasonable doubt? In that case, I think, it would be a hung jury?

At this point, and it's still early in the proceedings, I just don't see that as outside the realm of possibility.

There is always that possibility and I think that is what Bozo is aiming for. It doesn't help that they have that juror that "doesn't feel she should judge people"

 

[chris1gill]

Victims of Rape also believed the victim in the Duke Lacrosse Player Rape Trial. Until it was found out that she lied about it.

If her claims are not true--she is no better than the that woman who lied about being raped.

Funny you should mention her, was it a month or two ago she allegedly killed her boyfriend and is now in jail? The story is even more sordid than that but that was just her recent and most harsh brush with reality.

Now back to this, for the life of me I don't see how anyone buy's the Baez story. They allege this was a drowning and the father wanted to cover it up. Now the father is an old detective, he'd be the first person to know that was the wrong thing to do as if it were an accident there would be no jail time (in all likelihood), the whole thing just makes no sense.

For those who say the father showed no emotion in the courtroom as the accusations were leveled at him, the judge instructed him (and the mother) not to do so or they'd be thrown out, additionally their own attorney said this would be the strategy and they knew it as of approximately six weeks ago, they had time to prepare themselves as hard as that is.....

 

[diznygirl]

Calling several times isn't that weird. But the fact that he just happened to stumble across the body 4 months after his initial call is pretty weird. And if he was so positive that what he saw was a skull wouldn't he have gone back a few days later to check it out himself?

Ick - not me! Calling and reporting is about as far as I would get to possible human remains.

One more thing.

A lot of people watching think Baez is doing a bad job. I see much worse on a daily basis.

That's scary. And sad.

 

[Belle0101]

There is always that possibility and I think that is what Bozo is aiming for. It doesn't help that they have that juror that "doesn't feel she should judge people"

I'd forgotten about her.

Push comes to shove, Baez ends up poking enough holes, she may well be a lone holdout on a Not Guilty verdict.