CASEY ANTHONY:THE SENTENCING

Marion Pellicano Ambrose



Casey holds hands with Jose Biaz while verdict is read.



The whole state of Florida, in fact, most of the country, waits to learn today if Casey Anthony will be freed to walk out of the Orange County Jail after three years of living behind bars. Judge Belvin Perry will start sentencing proceedings at 9am.

Another topic expected to be discussed by Judge Perry is the conditions under which Casey might be forced to pay back the huge amount of money the state was forced to dole out for her defense.  Many speculate that Casey will be offered a great deal of money for her story to be made into a book or possibly a movie. New figures released Wednesday show Casey Anthony's defense has billed the Justice Administrative Commission $133,905.57. The total costs paid out so far with public funds is $93,917.49. An additional $11,708.61 in billings will not be paid, and $28,279.47 remains unpaid at this time.
 It has been reported that others involved with the case have been approached to appear on TV, give interviews, or provide information regarding the case.

According to the Orlando Sentinel:



Jennifer Ford, Juror #3



“Juror No. 3, a Largo woman named Jennifer Ford, agreed to talk to ABC without compensation, the network said. In an article on the network's website, Ford explained the verdicts left her and other jurors "sick to our stomachs."
"I did not say she was innocent," Ford, a 32-year-old nursing student, reportedly told ABC. "I just said there was not enough evidence. If you cannot prove what the crime was, you cannot determine what the punishment should be."
Ford did not immediately return calls from the Orlando Sentinel.
Early Wednesday, Perry shredded the notes jurors took in court, according to an affidavit placed in Anthony's court file.
A representative for Juror No. 6 reached out seeking money, according to two national news organizations. The juror won't do anything without compensation, a source with one organization said. A publicist identified by online reports as representing Juror No. 6 also did not return a call from a reporter.”It was later reported that while Jennifer Ford received no financial compensation for speaking to ABC, she and her family were given a Disney vacation in exchange for her interview.



George and Cindy Anthony leave court after verdict is read.



The question now arises, where will Casey go once she is released? After accusing both parents of lying, George and Lee of molesting her, and George of trying to cover up Caylee’s death, it seems unlikely Casey would be warmly welcomed back home.  As a matter of fact, neither George nor Cindy showed any reaction when the verdict was read. Neither did they attempt to visit or speak to Casey afterwards.

So, many questions remain at the end of this infamous trial. What will be Casey’s sentence? Who will “sell” their stories? And most importantly, will there ever be justice for little Caylee Anthony?  

We may never know what really happened
to little Caylee Marie Anthony

JURORS DELIBERATE OVER CASEY'S FATE

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

The jury for the Casey Anthony murder trial is in deliberation. This morning, closing arguments ended with the prosecution presenting Casey  as a pathological liar who diverted attention away from herself by claiming her dead daughter, Caylee, had been kidnapped.

State Prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick played portions of jailhouse tapes of Casey Anthony lying about her daughter being kidnapped by a fictional nanny and the 911 call made by Casey Anthony's mother, Cindy Anthony, to report Caylee missing, further showing Casey’s lies despite the anguish it caused her parents.

"When you use your common sense, you can listen and hear that there's nothing that's wrong with Casey Anthony that can't be explained using two words: pathological liar," Burdick said.

"At the end of this case, all you really have to do is ask yourself the simple question, 'Whose life was better without Caylee?'" Burdick said.

The prosecution ended by showing a picture of a “party girl” Casey  and the tattoo that read "Bella Vita," Italian for the beautiful life, all while Caylee was supposedly missing.

Earlier,Prosecutor Jeff Ashton, showed jurors images of the skull and skeletal remains of Caylee. He reminded them of the state’s claim that pieces of duct tape on the remains were placed on Caylee before she died.

“We believe the evidence in the case supports the scenario that Casey Anthony chloroformed Caylee so that she would not suffer, placed duct tape over her nose and mouth…and then disposed of her body," Ashton said.

"Any way you slice it...Casey Anthony is guilty of murder in the first degree in this case," Ashton concluded

According to ABC News, Judge Belvin Perry instructed jurors how to proceed in their deliberations. He gave jurors the option of finding her guilty of a lesser crime such as second degree murder, manslaughter or third degree felony murder. Those crimes do not carry a death sentence.

Along with the first degree murder charge, Anthony faces charges of aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter and four charges of lying to law enforcement.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/casey_anthony_trial/casey-anthony-trial-jury-begins-deliberations/story?id=13992868

CASEY ANTHONY DAY 17: FINGERPRINTS AND HAIR

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Stephen Shaw , evidence examiner for the FBI  testified today that he analyzed hair found in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car, along with samples taken from the remains of Caylee Anthony's skull, which were found in a wooded area not far from the Anthony home, six months after the 2-year-old was first reported missing.

Shaw told the jury that he saw further evidence of decomposition on the hairs taken from the skull than on the hair found in the trunk.

The Prosecution hoped to admit a PowerPoint presentation regarding hair evidence however, Judge Perry did not allow it to be submitted.

Following Shaw, Elizabeth Fontaine, Latent Print Scientist for FBI took the stand. Fontaine examined 3 pieces of the duct tape found with Caylee’s remains. Fontaine’s testimony was stiff and seemed to be memorized in part. She directed all her comments right to the jury. She testified that she was unable to find latent fingerprints on the tapes, but on one piece she did find an outline of a heart. The outline was destroyed by the different processes used to try and detect fingerprint before it could be photographed. The heart shape was located about where the mouth of little Caylee would have been covered with the tape. An FBI supervisor also saw the heart shape during Fontaine’s examination.

The testimony this morning was scientific and complicated, but Fontaine was able to break down the technical information so it could be easily understood.  Shaw’s technical testimony on the other hand was dry and difficult to comprehend. Some visitors in the gallery were actually seen yawning. Casey sat with her usual stone faced expression.

Judge Perry told the jury that the State should wrap up their case within the next two days. By Saturday they should have a good idea of how much longer the trial will go on. He estimated that all evidence will be presented by the 25th or 27th of June and the jury should be ready for deliberation at that time. Court was recessed until tomorrow afternoon at 1pm when the State's next witnesses will arrive.

CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL: JUNE 7th MORNING UPDATE

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

The Casey Anthony Murder Trial resumed today. On the stand was crime scene investigator Gerardo Bloise. Baez questioned him as to why he dried out the garbage from Anthony's trunk that was said to have produced the odor of human decomposition. Baez implied that the evidence was altered because of Bloise’s actions. Bloise testified that he followed procedure and that drying actually preserves evidence and makes it easier to examine.

The “Bone Yard” Doctor, Arpad Vass was called for cross examination this morning.  Vass has been described as “quirky” but is considered a credible expert witness. Baez again tried to discredit Vass’ findings by pointing out that garbage from the junk yard where the car was found had not been collected and tested and that the junkyard itself might have contaminated the air samples from Anthony’s car. Vass offhandedly replied that they took all that into consideration and that his findings were valid.  His candid, slightly geeky demeanor has become popular with the public and possibly with the jury. Only time will tell. The court is in recess for lunch and will resume this afternoon.