Breaking… Verdict Reached in Casey Anthony Trial
Posted: July 5, 2011 Filed under: child sexual abuse, children, Crime, physical abuse | Tags: Casey Anthony, child abuse, crime, human decomposition, justice system, murder 152 Comments
Casey Anthony
The jury informed the court a short time ago that a verdict had been agreed upon. The result will be announced at approximately 2:15.
ORLANDO, Fla. — The jury has reached a verdict in the murder trial of Casey Anthony, who is accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. Judge Belvin Perry says he will read the verdict at 1:15 p.m. Chicago time Tuesday.
The Florida jury deliberated for more than 10 hours. If convicted of first-degree murder, the 25-year-old Anthony could get a death sentence.
She could also be acquitted or convicted of second-degree murder or manslaughter.
She is also charged with lying to sheriff’s detectives investigating her daughter’s 2008 disappearance.
The panel of seven women and five men appeared briefly in the courtroom Tuesday before Perry sent them to continue their work behind closed doors. The jurors had worked through much of the long weekend, hearing closing arguments Sunday and Monday morning and deliberating for six hours that afternoon.
Such a short deliberation time sounds bad for the defense, good for the prosecution. Of course the OJ jury only deliberated for four hours, but he had better attorney’s and a biased jury.
I’ll add more info as I get it. Let us know what you’re hearing.
peej
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Casey Anthony News13 (CFNews13Casey) on Twitter
Link to those tweets up top.
They couldn’t have had time to review much of the evidence. It sounds like they had their minds made up before they started deliberating.
If I was held hostage for as long as they have been, I would want to get it over with quick too.
I felt my TV was held hostage too. Especially because I had to look at sourpuss Nancy Grace all the time.
Jurors need to be more responsible than that or they shouldn’t serve.
I haven’t been following this at all but I am under the impression that the prosecution presented no evidence to support their claim. How far off is that impression?
They presented lots of circumstantial evidence, but no evidence of cause of death. Multiple witnesses also lied and changed their stories. I think Casey should have testified if she wanted ot save herself from death, but she can still tesify in the penalty phase if she gets a death qualified sentence.
About five mins. to go…
Jury coming into court….
Not guilty of first degree.
Not Aggravated child abuse.
Oh my God! Not guilty of aggravated manslaughter
Wow. Guess the press wanted to hang her high but the jury actually thought about it.
I can’t believe that she did not get lesser charges! No justice for Caylee today.
Were they allowed to find any lesser charges? I thought that she was just charged with capital offenses and no lesser charges.
Guilty of lying to law inforcement
She’s going to get off with time served!!
wow, no way! I did NOT see that coming!
Let’s hope she gets her tubes tied before she drags any more children into that seriously dysfunctional family.
Right on!
Let’s hope she stays away from her mother. She’s the one who wanted the child, not Casey.
Really, what else could they do? Have to have actual evidence that a crime was committed and by the person charged with committing the crime. This is 100% on the prosecution.
That is something…I am sick to my stomach…not even any child abuse charges…
Not guilty, slap on the wrist for lying to law enforcement…………..walk on by.
Holy shit!! I can’t believe this.
I’m going to enjoy watching Nancy “They’re all guilty” Grace and the rest of her cronies explain this.
Me too. Goulish Nancy Disgrace is going to have a lot of ‘splainin’ to do.
I would have thought count three would have done it………….mf
Not child abuse? seriously, what?
my understanding is that this was a specific child abuse count not just what we’d normally think as child abuse
I thought they put up a simple charge of child abuse, that the Defense got that lesser charge in.
Aggravated child abuse means killing a child while abusing her. Which I think she did. But I think it’s at least a 30 year sentence, and apparently the jury thought the prosecution overcharged.
Maybe so, JJ. Pat would probably know.
I thought there was a 3rd degree murder or manslaughter charge with no aggravated child abuse, just child abuse.
I’m not sure how much leeway the jury has given that the prosecution went for broke with the capital offices.
Parents are pretty much allowed to abuse their children in this country, clearly.
That has always been the case. As I said in my morning post, children are not valued in this country. But all the perjury by her parents had to have something to do with this. When witnesses lie under oath, the jury can discount all of their testimony.
I think the prosecution overcharged this case, and they are responsible for this verdict.
Yeah, I never thought the first degree murder and the death penalty was the appropriate charge frankly given they had no hard core evidence but circumstantial evidence galore.
They could have found her guilty of child abuse, but they didn’t charge that. But there were lesser included charges they could have chosen. I’m really stunned. I thought they were going to want to burn her at the stake.
“children not valued” – absolutely. It’s the authoritarian mind-set – I grew up in an abusive family, so for me the devaluing is very recognizable.
I didn’t realize the “aggravated” part of the charge was the issue. Wow, the prosecution really blew it.
I hope the jury explains. I predict it will turn out they hated Jeff Ashton and discounted the testimony of George and Cindy.
This jury is a joke. Do they think caylee killed herself? The jury and casey better move out of the country. This is a slap in the face of caylee,she is getting killed all over again.
It’s our system. No one thinks Caylee died of natural causes. But no one knows how she died. She could have drowned as I said this morning. George had a strong motivation not to report an accident. He thought he or Lee could have been the father of the child. An autoposy would have revealed that.
It’s kind of hard to show “motive, means, and opportunity” when you can’t even establish COD. The burden of proof is on the prosecution. They didn’t meet it to the jury’s satisfaction.
Casey working really hard not to smile.
I know, she got away with murder.
Holy shit. What is there to smile about? Her daughter is still dead. I … probably can’t be rational about this.
(I’m late on this one — got to France a few days ago.)
Holy shit! Well, I ‘m actually relieved they only looked at the (almost nonexistence) evidence to reach the verdict rather than convict her based on prejudice and misogyny!
I thought the prosecution did a very good job, but they just didn’t prove what happened to the exclusion of a reasonable doubt. I think if Linda Drane Burdick had done more of the cross-examination, it would have been better though. Jeff Ashton was so unprofessional, laughing and smirking and patronizing Baez. Baez was inexperienced, but his closing argument was very good and he did raise reasonable doubt.
I thought Jeff Ashton was unprofessional too, and that LDB should have done more then she did. I know that reasonable doubt was always there, but it is just upsetting.
No jury members want to talk.
Now she’s sobbing.
Jose Baez will be a talk show star now.
and in two weeks the National Enquirer will have Casey partying photos .
note to self: duct taping a toddler’s mouth shut is not child abuse
There was no evidence that she duct taped Caylee’s mouth shut. Based on the testimony, I think the duct tape was used to hold the bags closed. I’m shocked by this verdict, but again, I think the prosecution blew it with their arrogance and hubris. Now a psychopath will be set loose.
An entire family of psychopaths are loose.
I thought duct tape was found on the child’s mouth?
I think the prosecution blew it with their arrogance and hubris. Now a psychopath will be set loose
I agree with both points
That is what makes me sick…
Her life is going to be hell for the rest of her life. Nancy Grace basically turned her into a media punching bag. What’s she going to do? Go on dancing with the stars and have her own reality show? Casey Anthony will be in a hell realm the rest of her life. Karma takes care of things. I’m hoping this takes down Nancy Grace too.
Nancy Grace makes me sick too…
paper doll,
Duct tape was found near the scull, and more duct tape yards away. The man who found the body in August reported it to police but they did nothing. Instead of pushing them to come and look at his find this man, Roy Kronk let the body remain in the woods for four more months. In December he went back and reported it again. This time the police came and investigated.
Krock admitted under oath that he tampered with the bones more than once. When he first saw the skull he claimed it was lying outside the bag. Later he admitted that he picked up the bag and the skull rolled out. He also picked up the skull with a tool and then dropped it. There was no proof that the duct tape was attached to the child’s face. There was not DNA on the duct tape.
There was also testimony that the Anthony’s always buried their pets in blankets and then placed them in plastic bags. Duct tape was used to secure the bags. George Anthony was the one who prepared the pets for burial. The duct tape and the bags used were identical to the ones George used to bury the pets.
That’s a whole hell of a lot of reasonable doubt, IMO. And there was much more reasonable doubt because of the repeated lies of Cindy, George, and Lee Anthony under oath.
If she’s not quilty who the hell is? That little girl didn’t die from natural causes……….
But like with OJ , the public will not allow her to go free… I don’t know where she can go to not be attacked or vilified…
not child abuse??? …..can’t wrap my brain around that one
.
They didn’t charge her with child abuse. The charge they used was basically equal to first degree murder.
crazy …why not throw that charge in as well ? What’s with the all or nothing approach? …lord
I thought it was a mistake to begin with.
Now the police should start investigating George Anthony. Get his cell records and look at the pings to see where he was during all these events.
Our system sucks. Even if they did not like ashton,the case was about caylee. I hope the jury has nightmared for what they just did.
A trial is about judging the defendant. Unfortunately, the prosecution based much of their case on three people who repeatedly lied under oath.
Actually our system doesn’t suck. Would you rather live under the old Soviet system where the state brings you before a judge and proclaims you are guilty and if you can’t prove otherwise you go to prison or get executed? Our system is appropriate and correct. The problem with this case is that it is highly possible that Anthony died either by accident or at the hands of another person. There is reasonable doubt here. No cause of death. Lying witnesses. We just don’t know. The only person who really knows is Anthony and probably her parents. It is very plausible that the child died through accident and Anthony panicked. It is also highly plausible that Anthony murdered that child. Piss poor prosecution.
I agree. If I were on trial I would want the jury to have an open mind. I think George is the one who panicked. Jesus, this woman didn’t even want the child. Her narcissistic mom forced her to keep the baby.
Who wants to take bets? Should this Casey have been a black woman from Ala. or a Chicana from Arizona, what say you about the outcome? Guilty is my bet.
If she had been a black woman from Ala. it wouldn’t have been a high-profile case and she would likely have been found guilty of manslaughter and served a few years. That’s what most child killers get in this country.
sadly, that is true….
I can go to any news site and find you several examples of children murdered by their parents in about a minute. Babies beaten to death, thrown against walls, and on and on. Once you start to be aware of it, you realize how ubiquitous it is. What’s rare is kids killing their parents–but those cases get more publicity.
Let’s just say ANY person here in Texas. The fact that Anthony was young and pretty may have softened the jury but I have a hard time believing that jurors from an ardent death penalty state give a darned about that. More likely, the prosecution just fumbled this case.
This is like a repeat of the Simpson case. Casey will have to have bodyguards.
Unlike the Anthony case, the Simpson case was rife with DNA evidence. In Simpson’s case he was acquitted despite a lot of forensic evidence. The Anthony case just didn’t have the evidence to convict her. Simpson was also a celebrity and well loved, whereas Anthony has been despised.
Maybe she and O.J. can start a detective agency to find the “real” killers.
Wow. I didn’t see that coming. I thought at the least she’d be found guilty of manslaughter. One of the reporters said the parents put their heads down when the verdict was read, and then quickly left the chambers without a word or looking at anyone.
Stunning!
I did too.
Next bet, how long before the next book comes out?
There will be plenty of books and probably a movie. Just don’t buy the books or watch the movie.
My verdict is that the Sun-Times needs to hire an editor who understands how plurals are formed in English.
Really? I just posted the first story I saw on google. Sorry I didn’t find a better written article.
No apologies (or, in homage to the Sun-Times, “apology’s”) necessary – you’re not responsible for the deficiencies of major newspapers.
Thanks. To be honest, I didn’t read it carefully. I was just trying to get the thread up ASAP.
George was very unhappy. Cindy was smiling. Maybe he’s afraid of what Casey will say about him now.
Maybe the state will consider charging them both with perjury.
I doubt it. Not after the verdict.
None of the jurors want to speak to the media. The alternates haven’t been asked yet. It sounds like the jury may be disgusted with media.
Judge Perry has barred the release of jurors names…I am glad that they don’t want to talk.
What is Casey going to do now? Go back home to Mom and Dad?
She needs to stay as far away from those psychopaths as possible. But who knows? I hope she finds a way to be anonymous, but based on how she acted in 2008 she could seek publicity. That would be disgusting, IMO.
Casey will still have to face the civil trial by the real Zenaida Gonzalez.
Fla. Law:
State Law Violations
The law relating to making false statements varies from state to state. Under Flordia law, false statements made in an official proceeding such as a trail are subject to harsher punishment than other types of false statements. If made during a capital trial, prejury is punished by up to 15 years in prison. A false statement made to a law enforcement officier outside of a trial is a misdemanor, punishable by up to one year in jail unless the statement is made in relation to a capital charge, in which case the punishment is up to five years.
What will the judge decide in regards to the capital charges…what are the technicalities?
Casey’s parents lied under oath. She didn’t testify. Each of the lying charges is one year. She has served about three. I think now that she’s been found not guilty, she’ll be released. But Judge Perry could make her serve the rest. They would normally be served concurrently though, so I doubt it. She hadn’t been charged with anything when she lied to police.
The prosecutors aren’t going to talk to the media.
I have not been following this trial. But from the bits and pieces I’ve heard folks talking about it seems the prosecution not only “blew it” they should be fired for not understanding the law and seeking the right charges.
They did a good job, especially with the forensic evidence. But the evidence was based on unproven technology and there simply wasn’t proof of manner or cause of death. I’m still surprised, but I do think her parents lying under oath repeatedly was a serious problem for the prosecution.
I just don’t know how they go to trial without being able to demonstrate the cause of death. I have always been under the impression that the first rule in bringing a murderer to justice is 1st proving that a murder had been committed. Crazily, people disposing of their deceased children in an improper manner is not unprecedented or uncommon. Malice must be proven. This case just boggles the mind.
It happens. No one knows how Laci Peterson died, and her husband got the death penalty. If you couldn’t convince on circumstantial evidence, all a murderer would have to do is make sure the body isn’t found till it is skeletonized.
Murder isn’t a cause of death–it’s the “manner” of death. Cause of death is gunshot wound, blunt trauma to the head, poison–the actual injury.
OC Sheriff points out that child murders are common–180 homicides open right now, many of them children.
The law still treats women and children as property. It’s a damned shame we don’t have better laws that really advocate for children. Instead there’s people obsessed with frozen embryos and pregnancies terminated for fetuses that don’t have brains. What a bizarre set of values!
Quit blaming her parents,she is an ADULT. There are plenty of people with worse stories that don’t kill there kids. When child killers get away with murder our system does suck. The jury should be forced to explain their verdict.
Poor casey she had bad parents so that justifies her killing her child. She and the jury will reap what they sowed.
What if she really did not kill her child? I still haven’t read anything that proves a murder took place. Now I believe she did but some of the “proof” I have been reading includes such damning evidence as going to a club, witnesses that perjured themselves on the stand and no cause of death.
Obviously the jury thinks the accidental death story is a possiblity. It’s entirely possible, as far as I’m concerned. If anyone is getting away with something, IMHO, it’s George Anthony.
Her child dies and she is seen on tape the very same day purusing Blockbuster with a new boyfriend, arm and arm, with no signs of grief or mourning?
Her child dies and she keeps it hidden for 31 days while out pole dancing, drinking, and sliding all over a barroom floor without a care in the world?
Her chid dies and she is running around Target, J. C. Penney, and a supermarket cashing somebody else’s checks while inventing new and more creative reasons as to why she won’t come home?
Her child dies and she never displays remorse or offers up any involvement for almost 3 years as she sits in jail working on an “abuse excuse” defense as the baby’s body continues to disintegrate into liquid without even a decent burial?
Her child dies and she celebrates with a tatoo “Bella Vita” on her back?
And you ask did she really kill her? Did the baby choke on something, wrapped herself in a blanket, stuffed herself into 3 bags, slapped a sticker over her mouth, and drag herself to the woods to await discovery for 6 months all the while being feasted on by small animals and bugs?
Yes, she killed her. But the remains were too far gone to suggest the method.
Who said anything justifies killing a child? Are you suggesting I said that? Nothing justifies killing a child or in any way abusing a child. Period.
I am not saying you said that,but I am sick if people saying that could be a reason. Lets pretend George abused casey,why would she allow caylee near him. Did she want caylee to get abused? What happened to caylee during those 31 days? Casey partied while caylee wast rotting in a swamp.
I am glad casey will not be able to go anywhere and be called a baby killer for the rest her life. She better have bodygurads for the rest of her life. Our system does not work when baby killers get away with it.
Where is the justice for this caylee and children like her?
Casey’s boyfriend said she didn’t want Caylee near either George or Lee. That testimony wasn’t allowed in court because it was hearsay. But she told him that before anything happened to Caylee and he told his parents.
People who have been sexually abused often still love the perpetrator. There are very compex dynamics that happen with sexual abuse. None of that justifies murder or child abuse. But the prosecution didn’t produce incontrovertible evidence of murder.
Casey probably never had a chance to deal with the abuse until she escaped her family by going to jail. I still think she’s a sociopath and very likely dangerous. I’m just telling you what I know about child sexual abuse and its aftereffects.
And sexual abuse *is* a reason. The majority of criminals in prison were abused as children. This has been documented in empirical studies.
BB:
WSVN-TV
@wsvn WSVN-TV
According to the State Attorney’s Office prosecutor Jeffrey Ashton has retired effective Thursday. #caseyanthony
I should not believe George but some horny boyfriend of hers. If she was worried about them then she should have left her parent’s house she was an adult.
Her lawyers are partying and came out of the resturant to take smiling pictures. That makes me sick.
So, the real killer of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman claims another victim.
The OJ jury looks smart compared to this jury.
“I am not saying you said that,but I am sick if [sic] people saying that could be a reason.”
No one would say the child was killed for a reason, but simply that there might be causes for the mental illness of the mother.
That’s not a reason, but rather *possibly* mitigating circumstances. And when those circumstances mitigate nothing, the origins of her mental illness are still fascinating and instructive. They teach, by yet another in an infinite list of examples, how circular and damaging child abuse can be.
“And sexual abuse *is* a reason.”
BB, with the very utmost respect – I would just quibble over the word choice – it’s not a “reason”, but rather an “underlying cause”.
Abuse is not a motive unless the accused has killed the abuser. 🙂
Maybe I used the wrong word. To me sexual abuse is an explanation for why Casey is the way she is. Nothing justifies murder. But murder wasn’t proven in the trial. Nothing justifies Casey and her parents covering up the death of the child either. I’m not defending her. I’m just sickened by the lynch mob atmosphere around this trial.
Those who are outraged about Caylee’s death should find ways to help abused children–there are plenty out there. There are 11 killings of children being investigated in Orange County right now. Will the lynch mob attend the trials of their murderers. I’m guessing none of the lynch mob will even trouble to learn the names of those dead children.
exactly. I’m with you 100% BB
And I love your take on all this, and if more info on the parents comes to light, I hope you share you thoughts on it.
Thanks for all this!
Thank you very much for that. I definitely will share anything I find out. I just hope Casey gets serious help and doesn’t have any more children.
“I definitely will share anything I find out. ”
Yay! (not that I need a reason to read Skydancing multiple times a day) 🙂
love all y’all
Wow, what a wonderful thing to say! You just made my day.
Caylee was defensless, she was trusting the way small kids are, she depended on the adults in her life to care for her. They all let her down, and no amount of legal mumbo jumbo or psychology can hide those facts. Someone killed that poor kid, she did not get justice today. There must be a special place in Hell for all those involved. Everyone except the her has their situation taken into consideration. Who takes her situation into consideration. Evidently no one…
Well, when all is said and done…I predict Casey’s future to be filled with all sorts of parties and other fabulous evenings out with friends and her entourage…She’ll pen a deal to pose nude in Playboy…Or if she is a freakazoid Larry Flint will step in and offer her a sweet deal for his rag…Then when things die down enought for her to begin looking for the “true” killer…She’ll be on the golf course with O.J. beating the crap out of little white balls…
RIP Caylee. So sorry the system failed you
“Abuse is not a motive unless the accused has killed the abuser”
That’s when the accused gets a life sentence with no possibility of parole (Stacy Lannert) – unless it’s commuted – which it was after 18 YEARS in prison.
But acting out your abuse on a defenseless child – nada.
If Casey had killed George or Lee, she would have been in a whole lot more trouble. I guess she killed the right person.
Still… there is a higher court (and I’m not even religious) that will get her. It just never seems to act very quickly – or not as quickly as I’d like.
My jaw is still residing on the floor where it landed after the verdict came in an exonerated her for everything but lying to law enforcement. Yet she lied and the question they should have asked themselves was why.
Why did Casey go to such lengths to offer a fictitious Nanny who lived at a fictitious address complete with fictitious relatives? Out of “respect” for her father trying to “save” her from possible charges of neglect? Come on!
The prosecution has nothing to apologize for; they presented a fact driven case. The child died at the hands of her mother, whether by intent or accident and she went out of her way to cover that up. This is indeed a case of murder just from the way she conducted herself after that baby’s life left the earth in whatever manner it happened.
Casey has lied, her defense was atrocious flinging unfounded crap that managed to slime her father, brother an some poor jimoke who discovered the body. Her attorney lied repeatedly and was overruled so often due to his inexperience yet this jury saw fit to offer her yet another “pass” in her life that has gone unchecked for years.
Stealing, lying, smearing others for the sake of this ungrateful monster while her baby girl’s remains mouldered in a swamp for 6 months. Unbelievable! Who were these idiots who unanimously found her innocent with the proof offered up that it was Casey and only Casey who had the means and opportunity to end this baby’s life?
She will go on to some “infamous fame” brought about by tv appearances, book deals, whatever a celebrity craving public demands.
But here is my next unsolicited opinion: She will reconcile with her horrible mother as she will find few willing to embrace the “New Casey” and return home. The father will leave the two of them to wallow in their usual dance of ignorance since in the end they only have one another left to buy into the lies, excuses, and fantasies they have created about one another in order to live with themselves.
All I can offer is that a little angel is weeping tears of sorrow that her time on earth has been as easily rubbed out as this verdict has done to free a murderer who does not deserve the benefit of any doubt.
I’m stunned too, but the jury didn’t know a lot of that stuff. They were all people who hadn’t followed the case. If she does the things you predict, she’ll very likely end up back in prison.
I don’t get why you’re so supportive of George though. I’ve read reams of material in the past several weeks, and I’m convinced he’s an abuser, a user, a liar, and all around psychopath. He has a violent history, and there no evidence whatsoever that he was a particularly loving grandfather. If he cared so much, why didn’t he hunt Casey down during those 31 days and try to find Caylee? Why didn’t he search for her after she was reported missing? Even other members of Cindy’s family and George’s first wife say he is a liar and con man. He gambled away the families savings.
An even better question: why didn’t either George or Cindy insist on meeting “Zanny the nanny?” I have a feeling a lot more information is going to come out about those two.
BB – do you think the truth could come out of Casey, Cindy, George or Lee via truth serum?
I don’t know. I’ve got a pretty strong feeling they are all going to turn on each other. But at the very least someone should get George and Cindy’s cell phone records. The fact that the police never investigated George when they suspect incest in the family is ridiculous.
People out here in the cheap seats always are so certain, with no real knowledge of the case at all. We get some skewed media view and think we’re “informed”. Our system is trial by jury and she was acquitted.
Poor prosecution, this or that, means nothing. Game over.
I tell you what I am certain of that Caylee was tossed out like trash while he mother was partying and screwing every guy she could find.
I am also certain she will make money off her daughter’s death.
Well then don’t give her any of your money. Don’t watch her interviews. Karma works in mysterious ways. If she murdered her child as you believe, it will come back on her. I think it was an accident, that’s what makes more sense to me. But it’s just speculation. Nothing was proven in that trial.
There is an alternate juror interviewed on HLN says that he does not believe the body was ever in the car. He believes an accident and he thinks George was involved.
Thank you. I agree. It happens that in this case all of the evidence turned over in discovery was published on-line. So a lot of people do know more than the jury. But the way our system works is that the jury sees only the evidence that is admissible in court. I hope eventually some of them will talk about their reactions to the evidence. But it’s absolutely their right not to talk.
The way this case has been covered reminds me of a lynch mob or a witch hunt.
Yes! That’s why I’m glad the jury transcended that and acquitted for lack of evidence rather than convicted to burn the witch. Like I said, in that way the public and media treatment was like that of the Alice Crimmins case.
It certainly has succeeded in distracting everyone’s attention from the wars, the economy, Fukushima, and God only knows what else, though. Corporate media FTW!
Well, I suppose Obama could always declare her a “terrorist” and unilaterally order a drone strike.
Casey’s own admission of guilt:
Casey Anthony’s journal dated June 21, 2008, five days after her daughter Caylee Anthony disappeared.
In the journal, Anthony writes, “…no regrets, just a bit worried… I completely trust my own judgment and know that I made the right decision… This is the happiest I have been in a long time.”
Anthony’s mother, Cindy Anthony, posted a lengthy message on the social-networking site MySpace on July 3 — nearly two weeks before Caylee was reported missing — “This precious little angel from above gave me strength and unconditional love . . . Jealousy has taken her away. Jealousy from the one person that should be thankful for all of the love and support given to her . . . ”
Also in that MySpace entry, Cindy Anthony, wrote, “The daughter who stole money, lots of money, leaves without warning. Where did she go?”
About Caylee, Cindy Anthony wrote, “Who is now watching out for the little angel?”
Casey Anthony posted the following on July 7th.
On the worst of worst days, Remember the words spoken.
Trust no one, Only yourself.
With great power, Comes great consequence.
What is given, Can be taken away.
Everyone lies – Everyone dies.
Life will never be easy.
On the worst of worst days, Remember the words spoken.
Hold your head high.
Smile.. Laugh. Love unconditionally.
Tomorrow is a brand new day.
And then she got the tattoo “Bella Vita”, celebrating her new, “beautiful life”.
Is she guilty? Of course.
Will she ever be punished? Yes.
Take heart from the knowledge that what goes around, comes around. Watch and wait. Like O.J. Simpson, eventually Casey Anthony will also reap what she has sown.
That wasn’t introduced in the trial. Why do you suppose the prosecution didn’t use the diary page or the my space stuff? Perhaps becuase it is ambiguous and doesn’t prove anything? Perhaps because the diary isn’t actually dated 2008? There’s no explicit confession there.
I don’t need to take heart. This didn’t happen to me. I’m not sure why people are taking it so personally. The system worked, the decision has been made. The prosecution overcharged and couldn’t prove first degree murder to a jury who didn’t know all these things that weren’t in evidence.
Anthony may well end up back in prison. But I’m not going to root for it. I’m not interested in being part of the witch hunt, the posse or the lynch mob. What will be will be.
I’m not sure why people are taking it so personally…
I dunno… maybe because there’s a child involved – a dead child. I’m rooting for Anthony’s death. Absolutely. I’m part of the lynch mob. 100%.
I need to take heart in Universal Justice. Abso-f*cking-lutely.
Yes there was a child involved. This is a terrible tragedy. I won’t take a backseat to anyone on caring for children. But I’m not going to become a vigilante.
Perhaps if the police had collected the remains in August when Kronk first reported finding them, we might have a different result. They screwed up badly. The jury made a decision on the evidence presented.
Who’s talking about vigilante justice?
*I* was talking about vigilante justice. It wasn’t directed at you. I saw a mob outside that courthouse. And I’ve been listening to mob behavior on HLN tonight. It scared me.
Thank you PJ. And I just want to say how much I have appreciated your comments over the past few weeks. I hope you’ll continue to join in the discussions here.
I thought Jeralyn had a very good post about the American system of justice yesterday.
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2011/7/5/23620/67938
Also some good comments on the media frenzy.
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2011/7/5/191920/7152
UPDATE: this comment ended up in the wrong place–was supposed to be in reply to PJ’s remark down below.
The prosecution should have charged her with Negligent Homicide…there was never enough evidence to convict on what they charged Casey Anthony with. The overreached with their charges.
Thanks BB. I have read you for a long time and I’ve always appreciated what you had to say. You are a sane voice in the midst of chaos.
I often let my emotions rule me, but I really don’t want emotions to rule the day.
My guess (not being admitted in Florida) is that it was not introduced because material from a Website is not admissible evidence. It’s not admissible in California essentially because it is unreliable (ie easily fabricated). (And often hearsay, although if Casey wrote it, it would not be hearsay in a case in which she is a party.)
*I* would never be a part of that. But does it scare me? Do I feel bad for Casey?
No.
If people break the law, I’m sure they’ll be punished. Provided there’s sufficient evidence.
I never said I felt bad for Casey. Far from it. But lynch mobs do scare me. Nancy Grace is doing everything she possibily can to whip someone up enough to act out her fantasies.
You’re right BB. I don’t want to live in a society with lynch mob justice.
Borowitz Report on Nancy Disgrace:
CNN to Cover New Casey Anthony Murder Trial When Nancy Grace Kills Her
Angry Anchor ‘Could Blow Any Second,’ Network Says
http://www.borowitzreport.com/2011/07/06/cnn-to-cover-new-casey-anthony-murder-trial-when-nancy-grace-kills-her/
A snake in a human body. Where was Casey for 31 days? No one went into that. It is sickening very sickening a very embarassing thing to the justice of Americans where has it gone wrong? All evidence points to Casey. She is not going to be accepted in society ever I doubt. Other countries will look at the case as ok… people can do anything over there in usa. It is a shock and it is horrible how her attorney partied and it is not a picnic it is a loss and a shame where a mother of her own child gets away with everything she did and then her attorney parties afterwards such a sad day when the results came out not guilty. People will never accept Casey ever. 99% of American believe Casey is guilty. The jury sucked and were brainwashed or something to cause them to be irrational in choosing not guilty. Where is justice for little Caley?
Her name is Caylee.
Crime and Punishment. Dostoevsky “seemed to suggest that actual punishment is much less terrible than the stress and anxiety of trying to avoid punishment.” That’s the boat Casey is in. She’s going to hear the knocking at her door for the rest of her life.
Hey everyone, I didn’t check through the thread to see if it was mentioned, or MM’s post, but Alternet has something up on it;
http://www.alternet.org/news/151533/the_dark_shadow_of_sexual_abuse%3A_did_casey_anthony_get_away_with_murder_/
I’m about to read it, but I thought I’d bring it right over.
ugh, just read it, don’t like it at all. Sexual abuse doesn’t promote “reasonable doubt”, per se, but it would, as BB has been suggesting, throw doubt on the testimony of the parents, which apparently there was tons of reasons to doubt them anyway. Being sympathetic to a defendant isn’t the same as reasonable doubt, but may affect sentencing, if considered to be mitigating circumstances or something. It is CERTAINLY NOT irrelevant to present abuse as an aspect of their home life.
Poor analysis, both legal and psychological. It gives me the creeps that people are considering the sexual abuse thing a cynical ploy used by the defense as a trick.
If the abuse occurred, it would be extremely important to the case, establishing the mental state of the mother, giving possible motive for the cover-up of her parents, etc etc, …it wouldn’t mean she’s not guilty, but it should mean she shouldn’t get the death penalty – if she’s a disturbed, dysfunctional human being, she’s like that because something happened to make her that way.
That doesn’t excuse her actions, but as civilized people, we should understand that people like that aren’t playing with the full deck of cards that well-adjusted people are handed.
Can we not both hold people responsible, but with *some* compassion? I feel people’s sense of justice in America is too all or nothing.