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May 25th, 2011
10:59 AM ET
Casey Anthony defense team drops bombshell that rattles courtroom
The trial of Casey Anthony started Tuesday with a bombshell allegation from the defense team.
Legal Analyst Sunny Hostin discusses the case with Kiran Chetry and Christine Romans.
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what happened?
"Reasonable doubt" is not the absolute standard of "beyond any conceiveable doubt" that some members of the public are thinking. Listen to the juror instructions at the end if you want to understand about the degree of doubt. People are convicted all the time on way less evidence than Casey. She's truly a pathetic character.
I am curious to know why Calee had duct tape over her little mouth with a heart sticker on it if she died from drowning. Why has that not been brought out. Something abouth this whole thing does not fit. I thinkl everyhitng Casey says is a lie. I don't see how anyone can believe her. It is obvious that it took them htree years to concoct these stories she is telling about family abuse. I think if she had been abused by her father or brother in any way she would not have been so free to get out there and act lik e a slut.
@Sherlock Holmes, the face I saw on the Dad is abject horror that he just discovered his daughter is throwing him to the wolves with the false accusations. His heart is clearly being ripped from his chest.
Excuse me...Sir Arthur, just because you have all those alphabets behind your name doesn't really mean anything!!! Please tell me, how you think the parents are to blame? and should be put to death? Have you read and seen all the information and videos? If you did, I certainly don't think you would say those things!! Casey knew exactly what she was doing!! She could care less about her parents especially her dad, and its not because she was molested! It's because she's a lying, mentally handicapped person, who should be put to death because of what she has done to her child!!
For goodness sake, the Defense is incapable of finding a bombshell in his own Corn Flakes, much less delivering one. Perhaps he dropped an egg and the media took it for a bombshell? I wish the media would refrain from using the now-meaningless "bombshell" for every little thing that tickles their fancy.
As a young girl I was abused by my father. I do not now nor have I ever thought of Killing a Child. That is insane to blame that on the reason for not telling anyone that the beautiful child died. If she gets off something is more than wrong with our society.
Was the steak knife tested for duck tape residue???? Maybe she used it to cut the duck tape to tape her mouth.
She used to medicate this baby so she could play with the boys, dance, and drink as a single person. She would tape the babys mouth in case she woke up in the trunk, so that no one would hear her cry. She killed her on accident but, murder is murder and she killed the baby. Another thing I noticed, when her mom was testifying her mother said one time when she brought Kayle home the baby had scratches on her legs. Cindy asked her why the scratches and casey told her the Nanny had family or friends over and they had brought a puppy with them and she jumped on Kayle and scratched her legs. I also remember the ex-boyfriend that lived in those apartments had the face book blog where he said " win them over with Chloroform.. He also had a dog!!!!!!! I think kayle and Casey spent a lot of time at this x-boyfriends apt.
Does anyone remeber when Casey was talking to her mom on the phone one day she told her mom that Mr. Biez wanted to meet with the family , he wanted to talk to all of them . the mother asked what he had in mind and Casey answered that he had some kind of plan.
Do you all remember the day when they were in the process of selecting a jury the Judge said they did not have time to fool around and this needed to get done? Mr. Biez took off in the early afternoon and no one was able to say where he went. It was a mystery! I can tell you. My theory; he met with the family and he told them he was going to do something to throw the jury off , anything to try and save her life and cause a hung jury. He then threw in the bomb shell.
He warned them he had to tell this lie about the father molesting casey. Mr. Anthony can deny it...as he should! Lee can deny it but the seed was planted in the jury. This was his desperate attemp to get at least a hung jury. Why didn't they ask the brother if he molested her?
They just needed enough of a lie to say the father is the culprit.
Phoey!!!!!!! I get it, can' you all see this?t
Here in America a female relative or child can accuse a male of domestic violence, rape or sexual assault,, wihtout evidence, and he is likely to be hauled away in handcuffs to face trial. You don't get over the stigma. It's sad to say, but at least in this cae its the corrupt defense attorney and not a malicious state criminal prosecutor making the allegations.
It seems to me the defense is trying everything in their power to get this woman off, which i understand that is what a defense team does but to slander and create more drama is unnecessary. This trail needs to be over already and give that woman the punishment she deserves and let that beautiful little rest in peace already. lord knows she hasn't since this circus started.
@Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I don't think that CAYLEE drowned in the pool. It just wouldn't explain the duct tape wrapped around her head. 🙁
It is so sad that all of this has even happened to the family. All I know is that Cindy definitely did not have anything to do with it. I wish that Casey/George/Lee had just given Caylee to Cindy, and the two of them could have just moved away from the crazies in their lives, starting over on their own.
I don't really know what else to say. This entire case has been making me emotional ever since it first appeared on Nancy Grace in July of 2008, and I've been following it ever since. I wish they would just convict somebody.
Reference Anthony Trial. Question – If Caylee drowned accidently, why was it necessary to tape her mouth. Second, if there was an accidental drowning why did Casey not call Paramedics or Police for help?
Thank God most of you are not on the jury... you listen to Nancy Grace and believe she's guilty. This is AMERICA and all AMERICANS are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All of you who keep saying this woman is guity before the trial is concluded is violating the US constitution. All I can say is may God treat you the same as you treat others.
There is no good reason why this is taking so long!
This news is soooo old. This should be updated daily if you want to stay relevant. Better watch Nancy Grace!
It might be a good idea for some to look up the word "reasonable" Reasonable doubt does not mean ANY doubt, this is not the OJ trial. There does not need a be a smoking gun for conviction. A cumulative add up of circumstantial evidence is sufficient for conviction. Just because the defense puts forth an alternative scenario does not make it a reasonable doubt. Wake up people- don't be a Sarah palin!!
How do any of you people know what happened. YOU were not there. YOU are not an eye witness. I have not seen anything that constitutes PROOF, disgust definitely but not proof.
They might do a DNA check to see if her dad is the father of the child, that could explain a lot as far as motive goes, along with dad not wanting the body found.
The father's behaviour seems suspect, he doesn't seem sincere, especially when talking to her in jail, seemed like there was some under current going on. Maybe it's just me, but if your 25 year old daugher, is in this situation, you come running to her protection PERIOD. They lost a grandchild, now they are helping the state try to take her daughter to – regardless of who is right and who is wrong. Why am I the only one, that sees this?
I am reminded of the saying, "where there is smoke there is fire",
and I see and smell more smoke around Casey Anthony than any
one else in the picture. Not reporting the child missing for 31 days
and the partying and her actions during that time are enough for me
to convict her. Anyone with logic should be able to see that.
I've been wondering if they found any fingerprints on the sticky side of the duct tape.
I think the child accidentally drowned and the parents panicked and covered it up.
or, in Casey's negligence to be a mother to Caylle, forgot about her daughter altogether while she was partying, and when she realized the little girl died inside the car, she panicked and didn't know what to do, reason why she didn't call report her missing right away.
sounds like it was all an accident, whether it be Casey or her parents. Regardless of Caylee's death was result of accidental negligence, for the memory of this precious little girl, they know the truth and should confess to lay the case to rest, and the little girls soul too. Admit the mistake and surrender to the consequences, that your own flesh and blood is gone at your hands.
If she drowned in the pool because she was playing on the ladder, nobody would be liable. It's an accident. If she was swimming with others, she would have been wearing a bathing suit, not clothing. She also would not have any duct tape on her mouth in any scenario except murder.
Casey waited 31 days to report her daughter missing-Opps the Grandmother Cindy had to do that.......
What "Bombshell?" A made up story that the child died by accident and the only witnesses were "sexual abusers?" REALLY? That is all the defense has got? Destroy everybody they can to get a self absorbed liar/killer off death row? So if a jury can't convict in this case, woe to the United States when we let murderers off because they are "liars"! Hopefully after this is over somebody sues these hack defense lawyers
More lies out of Cassy's mouth, If her father did that to her, then why would she still be living with them at age 21 and why would she leave Caylee with them., and if in fact she did drown in family swimming pool, why not call 911?? why dump her body like a piece of trash? and put duct tape over her mouth, she is guilty and all alone on it. The grandparents and Uncle been through enough, I hope she rot's in jail, Her parents did everything for her and Caylee roof over there heads a car or her to drive playground in the back for Caylee... People open your eyes... she is not a mother in my eyes.....
Out of curiosity, if Caylee died by drowning in a pool, why would they have found duct tape with little stickers on it on over her mouth when they discovered her remains? Doesn't make a lot of sense to me that they would do that after her death. Also, being an abused child myself, (every possible kind) and also a mother of a daughter, if my kid went missing I'd be positively frantic. If my daughter drowned in a pool, they'd have to sedate me for at least a month. I know what it is to have a history of severe abuse by a trusted parent, and I would definitely not been out partying or having a good time with my boyfriend if my daughter were dead or missing. This woman clearly has no remorse. I don't know if Casey was abused or not. Either way, it does not abrogate her responsibility as a mother of a defenseless child.
Casey is as guilty as sin. But you can tell by the shape of her skull that she has brain development issues.
Please people evidence no evidence she is guilty as sinnnnn. she need to be held accoutable. Evidence really what do you need more of to prove that she is a sick headed individual. Evididence, lying, stealing, car stinking, hair in trunk belonged to Caylee, internet searches, come on people quit being as dumb as Casey............... Baez s making himself look stupid by taking this case.
Wow, Arthur, get out much? That was not the dead girl's father you saw testify. Nobody knows who the father is. That is yet another web of lies spun by Casey Anthony. The testimony's they are talking about are Casey's father and brother. Frankly, their reaction on the stand is completely in line with a family who had done everything they could to find little Caylee, then done everything they could to support their daughter (who most probably had something to do with her disappearance), then had been accused out of the blue of child abuse and incest by the person they had fought to support.
Wrong, the mother ( Cindy) called the police as soon as she found out from Casey that Caylee was missing.
>>Neither on of them reported Casee either dead or missing for 31 days.
I have been watching this trial from the start, and the defense has me a bit confused : On day one Jose Baez said that the baby drowned in the pool and was pulled out by Grandpa. Later he says the meter reader found the remains and basically hid them until he later produced them, he stated that " We may never know" where the meter reader originally found them. My confusion lies there, if she was found in the pool, and then her little body hidden by Granpa and Casey, they know where they hid her. Second, we are to believe that after finding her in the pool, the two of them wrapped duct tape across her little face, wrapped her in a blanket, stuffed her in several trash bags, and did what? with her little body? Did they forget, so only the meter reader knows? Why the duct tape, if the defense is true? I am not sure if this is a lousy defense attorney, grasping at straws, hoping that there is at least one stupid person on the jury, or if the poor guy has nothing to work with....My prayers to George, who I do not believe molested or assisted Casey, and to Cindy, who I believe was a strong matriarch and loves her family, I pray our Father heal your hearts and bring you some form of peace and comfort. Rest in Peace Little Baby Girl.
What i haven't heard were autopsy results. Wouldn't any half way decent examiner be able to confirm cause of death? I'm sure there must be easy ways to prove/disprove the different causes of death i"ve seen proposed. There have to be significant differences between someone who drowned in a pool and someone who was chloroformed and mouth and nose taped shut. Even after the long period between going missing and discovery of her body they should be able to get a cause of death.
I am so sick of people using the "I was abused as a child therefore my doing completely horrible and irrational things is justified" defense...LOTS of people are abused as children- physically, verbally, and sexually. They do not grow up to kill their children, or as this woman claims, cover it up after the fact due to fear....Give me a break!
I'll tell you what I think. Even if she didn't kill her daughter she still deserves to go to jail for the rest of her life for being an all-around horrible person. Admitted thief, chronic liar, obviously sociopathic. Just put her away and be done with the circus side show!
I don't want to jump on the "fry the girl" bandwagon. Let the trial "play out" and, the evidence be presented. Having said that, I'm curious about the "nanny" angle. Who is it she claims to have left her child with? Can anyone (else) be found with that name, other than the poor lady whose life was ruined by this? Is she claiming now that she left her daughter with someone whom she didn't even know her name? Negligience, at best. Who can corraborate her story about the nanny? Anyone? Can anyone show she made any effort to contact the "nanny" in that crucial month? Wouldn't your cell phone have the nanny's number? Were any calls placed? Combine the nanny piece with all the lies and sneaking around she did, and "getting caught" at her parents house, makes a very strong cirucmstantial case.
This "tot-mom" case wouldn't even receive all this attention if casey were non-attractive. Sure she's a pathological liar, but more outrageous crimes have occurred and they don't get HALF the attention this one gets.
Drowning in a pool would not explain the tape on her face. why would she wait three years to come up with this if it were true.
It must of been very hard for the little girl to drown with tape wrapped around her mouth and Nose and when she was drowning she stuck on little Bear stick-ons while she was drowning. How can the Lawyers even present this as why she drowned I'll never figure out. My god look at all the facts we have heard over the last number of years.
Sir Arthur....you, sir, are a piece of work. Experts on body-language have repeatedly stated that George Anthony is telling the truth. His daughter, Casey, is a pathological liar (and admits to it). She has told so many lies that even she cannot remember the garbage she has thrown out there. She is a manipulating liar. God have mercy on her soul. Imagine her father, who has given his whole life to care for her and his granddaughter, having to sit through the slander that she is saying every day. The whole case has not been presented yet. Hold your opinions until the forensic evidence has been presented.
Judging by the father's facial expressions, and the brother's testimony, it appears that the father is lying. And the father is just as clupable as the mother. Neither on of them reported Casee either dead or missing for 31 days. The brother didn't report it because he clearly was afraid of his father, the child rapist and batterer. So Casee drowned in the pool. Lets say that is true for argument sake. Every other family in the United States who has had a child drown in the pool calls an ambulance, even if the child id dead. If the drowning happened on a mountaintop lake, the parents report the drowning, a doctor signs a death certificate and then they have a burial or a cremation. Parents who are not culpable in some way do not keep a dead and festering body of their child in a plastic bag. Given that these parents were not mentaly retarded or illiterate and fresh out of some primordial forest, it is clear that both parents were involved in the death, and both should pay the price that those who murder children with malice aforethought should receive. Death.
as a transplanted floridian since 1957 (age 11) i am appalled that we a forced to put up with the scum like the anthony's that move to my beloved state. if you check the so-called police blotter daily as i do and subscribe to CARL HIIASSON'S (miami herald) theory of why we get so many sub-human reprobates here ,then you would want to bring back" OLD SPARKY" too. not just for casey but for the entire anthony family and also for for jose baez and anyone elongating this trial at 100% taxpaper expense. TC
An innocent child lost her life, it was not the nanny, and it was not the grandfather.
But the defense has to make their “real” money, if they win this case, out of movie deals and books, so there are willing to play Casey’s game: “deny and lie”. To them, the end (results) will justifies the (dirty) ways.
They should a known better; it will backfire on all of them.
But it’s not going to happen, because she is going to be found guilty.
And Casey can add a new victim to her list, her dad; not that she ever care. She has plans for when she walks out of jail, and her family is not part of them.
She finally will achieve her goal: be rich and famous. (no more need for babysitter)
Thns, Jose Baes.
It's very tragic that Caylee has died. But based on what I've seen so far, there's no way that jury is going to be able to convict. It's the prosecution's burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Casey murdered her daughter. Without evidence to support this, there will always be reasonable doubt. The only thing we can say for certain is that after her daughter went missing, she did not behave the way a normal parent would behave. But, if she was abused by her father, then she's developed a strong sense of denial. So she may have just pretended that Caylee was still alive. I've seen a lot of abuse victims who deal with negative things by just pretending they don't exist. Just saying it's going to take quite a bit more work on the prosecution's side before I'm ready to believe that she did it for sure.
Drivers today inconsiderate,they do not use there blinkers,they think you have (esp).They drive to fast,they cut you off,and the are responsible for 90% of all traffic jam,and most of the accidents.Thank you.Michael Algieri
Such a terrible tragedy.
I feel so sorry for the family, especially the father. Now, the defense team has targeted him as an abuser, and other such delusional insane defense theory as the child drowning?
And suggestion of the meter reader as hiding the body until they had posted a reward?
Soon, some theory of little green men that took over as pod people for the mom, more challenges of the jurers to think, "What the heck is going on". Hoping they got the right courtroom..