Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Ashton began the closing arguments with such scalpular precision my mind wandered briefly where I actually pictured him scrubbing in, just before entering court. In approximately 77 minutes,  with 2 overruled objection by Jose Baez, Ashton tied up the one thing he is NOT required to present to the jury,  Casey’s motive for murdering her toddler, setting the tone for his closing that presented more like an excerpt from a Grisham flick.  I say let him play himself.

“..It’s easy to be a parent, sometimes.. It’s easy to be a parent, when your playing with your child, or when your enjoying your child, children are fun… But we all know that being a parent is much more than just playing with your children.. Being a parent is about sacrifice.. Your child becomes your life. This case is about the clash between that responsibility and the expectations that go with it, and the life that Casey Anthony wanted to have… “

Ashton went through the time line of 31 days including details from the elaborate lies Casey Anthony told to avoid detection from her Mother Cindy, her imaginary friend finder chip located in the unallocated sectors of her mind where her conscious should have been, and the fact there is only one reason to duct tape a small child: MURDER.  Ashton reminded jurors that the defense theory is asking them to head down rabbitholes that defy reasonable thought.  It makes one wonder if that was not exactly the source of inspiration behind Jose Baez Dr. Huntington pigs sans blankets experiment. 

Cheshire Cat: By-the-bye, what became of the baby? I’d nearly forgotten to ask.

Alice: It turned into a pig.

The Cat: I thought it would.

 Jose was spotted given jurors a parting gift over lunch, which was intercepted by deputies.

Doom and Gloom Loom for Camp Casey

 On what is likely to be her day of reckoning, Ms. Anthony was less than thrilled to learn that 2 of the bullseye on her defense’s dart board were permanently removed, I reckon. George and Lee Anthony, the crux of the defense’s failed attempts to blame Casey Anthony’s selective post traumatic stress disorder, will not be allowed to be maligned further based on her allegations of sexual abuse.

As expected, Jose Baez began his closing arguments reminding jurors the defense is not required to “defend” at all.  In short, his comments were structured around the trash being altered because it was allowed to dry, and that the state allowed jurors to pass around the velveeta pouch so they could help figure out “Who cut the cheese.”  You read that correctly, he actually said that.

He also went on to express his concerns that the State painted his client as a slut, and by doing so, invoking their emotions which will be used to find her guilty, as opposed to actual evidence.

In what I will call flub #3 in less than 40 minutes, Jose Baez inadvertently tells jurors that Casey Anthony’s trunk for the usage ot transportation is not murder. HEH?  I thought the defense was quite adamant the junk in the trunk is what stunk.  I guess that’s now bunk, whoda’ thunk? 

Jose Baez is currently continuing his contribution to the defense’s, and Cheney Mason is on as anchor to complete the allotted 4 hours. 

Linda Drane Burdick has had 3 sustained objections and granted one move to strike already.  I lost that bet dangit.

Flub #4 flies in, while I am editing.  This lawyer just actually admitted Casey searched for chloroform based on Ricardo Morales’s image on his computer.  OMG. 

..” It should be natural for her to want to know what chloroform was if her boyfriend had the image on his myspace…”  Jose Baez

Assistant State Attorney Linda Drane Burdick will complete the State’s rebuttal closing argument.

 On an unrelated note, the jury has selected their preference for the order of question during the press conference scheduled following a verdict.  It is as follows:

1.  CNN 2.  WFTV 3.  St. Pete Times 4.  Reuters 5.  People 6.  HLN 7.  WDBO 8.  NBC 9.  MSNBC 10.WTSP 11.FOX 12.Orlando Magazine 13.Florida Sun 14.WKMG 15.Dateline 16.WTMY 17.Chathouse 18.CFN 13 19.WOFL 20.Tampa Tribune 21.In Session 22.Orlando Sentinel 23.Univision 24.AP 25.Discovery 26.ABC 27.EFE 28.CBS 29.WESH

If that is not a window to this jury, I don’t know what is.

To Be Continued, Active Blogroll on this thread through today’s session. On the day that Governor Scott signed his first death warrant for Manuel Valle, convicted of killing a Coral Gables police officer a few counties away, I would not hold out any hope that Ann Finnell’s motion for mistrial based on Federal Court’s ruling striking the death penalty in Florida, will be granted. Report Filed 3PM EST

No words.

Sally Karioth will be appearing all week.  Try the veal.

Contributor Credit: www.blinkoncrime poster Lizzie 

Orlando, FL- As most of you following the murder trial of Casey Anthony for her 34 month old daughter, Caylee Marie, Saturday brought the most shocking day of NON-testimony yet.

I am referring to the bombshell dropped on the court by lead defense attorney, J. Cheney Mason. For reasons that may very well stay sealed until the conclusion of the trial, amongst rumors of photoshopping evidence pictures and witness tampering, Mason iniatied an off the record sidebar followed by an incamera meeting someone decided the defendant would not attend.

The dissention in the ranks seemed to stem from Friday’s rookie error, made by Mason, a criminal defense attorney with nearly 40 years of experience and considered one of the “super lawyers” in the State of Florida. Mason asked first responder deputy Ryan Eberlin, of the OCSO if he placed Casey Anthony in handcuffs at the Anthony home , opening the door to the prosecution to allow the deputy to explain, in front of the jury, that he did so at the request of Cindy Anthony after providing proof her daughter fraudulently used her credit cards.

(Editor’s Note: I was so stunned by this ginormous snafu I considered the possibility Mason did so to get fired on purpose. Given Saturday’s events, my jury is still out on that one.)

With Tru Tv’s Insession and other various local affiliates geared up for all day Saturday coverage, this presented the unique problem of having a day of rampant legal speculation as to what could have caused Judge Perry, who already scheduled an extended Saturday as a sanction to the defense for it’s third contempt of an order regarding expert witness testimony, ran through every option.

Based on the fact that immediately after court was recessed until 8:30 AM this morning, Jose Baez informed Dot Simms she would need to accompany State Attorney Jeff Ashton for the afternoon deposition of Dr. Kenneth Furton, that he could not, so she “just had to”, and the immediate seal of both the sidebar and incamera session, it is clear there are very limited reasons for the kerfeffel under Florida Law.

They are:

Jury related issue: Impossible as the court reporter left immediately after the recess. If that were the case, Judge Perry would have been required to address the issue immediately on the record, and with counsel present.

Pending Witness testimony Issue: Would not require recess, would not allow for closed proceedings and sealed transcripts, and there were 7 defense witnesses at the court house waiting to be called.

Plea Deal: Again, would not require in camera session without the defendant.

Misconduct: ding ding ding.. We have a winner.

Health Issue: Possible, but highly unlikely given we are looking at only about another week of testimony.

(more…)

Orlando, FL-  The Ninth Circuit of Orange County is beginning to look like their own decay facility.

If your watching the murder trial of Casey Anthony, for the murder of her daughter Caylee as the defense is presenting their case in chief,  you are watching Jose Baez et al building their own THE BODY FARM, of defense witnesses, that is.

For those of you who wish to maintain your decorum and have been advised to remove sharp objects from your reach, I offer the Blink hilight reel.

Fly In The Ointment.. Or Chew Lugie

Dr. Timothy Huntington, who was the defense entymologist expert , swarmed in, stating that the flies and larvae were attracted to the contents of the trash bag.  In short, his opinion was the blowflies, known for their ability to smell “happy hour” within seconds, were nearly absent from the trunk, and that the ones found were attracted to whatever decomposing food products, or garbage, that were NOT present.

Yep,  I said NOT present.  Jeff Ashton opened the evidence of the soda can reflecting no chew spit, and the “salami” packaging which actually held a piece of paper disguised as a food item, apparently.

Dr. Huntington’s “pigs not in blankets” experiment, where he had someone kill pigs and stash them in the trunks of various cars to prove the rate and amount of blowflies present in contrast to those found in the trunk of the Pontiac Sunfire, forgot to duplicate conditions in anyway, specifically, double trash bags wrapped in a laundry bag.  Dr. Huntington was forced to admit he has zero relevant experience in this area.

Like a moth to the flame, State Attorney Jeff Ashton drew Huntington into his “web of truth”.  Huntington, for purposes of this piece, was not at all comfortable on the prosecutorial flypaper; he said it “rides up” after a while.

It is not known if  Dr. Huntington left any puparia in his seat when he was excused from the witness box.

From Founder To Flounder In Taphonomic Wikigate

William Rodriguez, Phd, the defense expert in taphonomy, or the study of decaying organisms over time through fossilization has an impressive resume.

founder-  one that founds or establishes

flounder (v)-  to make clumsy attempts to regain one’s balance.

The good Dr, under oath, claimed to be a co-founder of  infamous THE BODY FARM in open court.

Not according to THE BODY FARM, or it’s actual founder, Dr. Bill Bass.

Dr. Rodriguez was already a subject of contention, or possible contEMPTion,  for drastically altering the opinion and findings he reported, versus what he is now prepared to testify to, thus violating Judge Perry’s order for what is now going to be the third time.

However, it is a whole different animal to claim a co-founder status, than the actuality, which was a teaching assistant, and at times,  window washer.

Because the State of Florida believes Rodriguez’s change in testimony is in effect a discovery violation, Judge Perry has since reserved ruling on the infraction until the trial’s conclusion.

Wait till he hears this BOMBSHELL.

Immediately Prior to Publication Update:  Rodriguez is OUT.  Details To Follow

Shoddy Is As Shoddy Does

By far, one of the more painful witness cross-examinations to date,  Werner Spitz, MD, was like flying coach to Thailand seated next to a newborn with an ear infection,  that has run out of booze in the first hour.

Dr. Spitz’s obsession with his pocket-cranial saw for all occasions not withstanding,  his testimony under cross, following a celebrated 56 year forensic pathology career involving the Assasinations of  President JFK and Dr. Martin Luther King was an affront to the profession, period.

At one point, he referred to the autopsy conducted by Jan Garavaglia, of “Dr. G” fame, as “shoddy” because she did not remove the “cap” of the skull, and therefore could not see the brain; although little Caylee Anthony’s remains were completely skeletonized with no soft tissue whatsoever.

When Dr. Spitz told the jury that he believed that the reason the mandibular bone appeared almost in full articular placement was because the duct tape was placed “on the left side only” after the toddler was completely decomposed, jurors were observed actually smirking at the man.

He was unaware there were 3 separate strips of duct tape affixed, and overall seemed to defy most Medico Legal Investigation of Death protocol in unnatural death investigation ,  which sadly, he is actually the co-author of.

Career, Interrupted.

Definitely A Fortnight…. Yes For Sure… Maybe Not

Dr. Jane Bock, the defense botany expert, as I have covered exclusively previously, is a lovely woman and accomplished professor.

She was also the benefactor of  Jeff Ashton’s gentlemanly handling of her testimony during cross examination this afternoon.

Dr. Bock went from the sublime to the ridiculous in her assertion that Caylee could have completely skeletonized, and grown herself a “root wrap” via her Pooh blanket.  Mr. Ashton was kinder than I would have been, to his credit, and to my “note to self about humility”, because I have written about her prior case work and it would have been entirely relevant as an impeachment item.  That said, I will follow his lead.

With no personal disrespect intended whatsoever to these “experts”, professionally, you betcha,  I have to ask,  did Jose Baez pull these folks out of a matinee complete with the AARP discount for a COCOON screening?

How is it, these seemingly accomplished, highly educated forensic professionals with career paths the envy of many a grad student,  were willing to throw their credentials behind such ludicrous opinions that were completely unsubstantiated by findings or evidence,  simply to have their names associated with this case. Make no mistake, that is exactly what happened here.

Being an expert defense witness, real or perceived in this case, makes going into one’s twilight  a solid 401K extender.

Blink discussing witnesses and developments after press-time LIVE tonight on THE DANA PRETZER SHOW.

Special Guests:  Diane Dimond, Mark Nejame, and Blink, Editor In Chief, www. blinkoncrime.com

Images by Klaasend.

Blink Discussing Anthony Case Updates on Dana Pretzer Show LIVE at 9 PM.

Listen Here Live

Orlando, FL-  Judge Perry calls the defense team Liars- Not a good sign. Yesterday, during Chief Judge Perry’s announcement to the jury about the tentative schedule for the remainder of the murder trial against Casey Anthony, defense counsel Cheney Mason objected and asked for a sidebar.

Mason: We don’t have any obligation to put on any evidence at all. and you just told the jurors you expect us to be putting on evidence, and we may or we may not.

Mason went on to request that the Judge instruct the jury that they are not obligated to put on a defense, and claimed Jeff Ashton agreed with him.

       Chief Judge Perry: Then Y’all lied to me.

       Mason:NO. Chief Judge Perry: “Yes the Hell you did…”  If you don’t put on any   evidence, then I will do that.

       Mason: Well, we are, so don’t worry about it.

      Chief Judge Perry: ..” I will take I cannot trust one thing your side says, anymore.

Heh?  I would like to give the benefit of the doubt to his honor, as I did not believe a word this defense had to say going into this trial, let alone 3 weeks later. The State, after establishing what they believe is the origin of the disappearing heart residue on the duct tape came from stickers in the drawer with Caylee’s birth announcements, and re-calling Cindy Anthony for a little light impeachment is headed to the finish line tomorrow.

*Insert defense’s motion for mistrial late today*  Denied.

To those of you, and there are many, screaming from the hilltops.. “Is that all you got?”  “OMG, is this girl gonna walk?”  “What about Dr. Hall?”  “How the Hell is Dominick Casey getting out of testifying?” I say chillax.  This prosecution team is simply resurrecting the F U M B L E R O O S K I.

The State of Florida, has ALWAYS known this case is going to verdict on THE LAST WORD from the prosecution, or the rebuttal portion of the trial. 

 Given the defense’s opening statement, there is no question in my mind, nor should there be in yours, that the ludicrous allegations made on the first day, cannot possibly be brought to bear, and while the prosecutions case in chief was meticulous, it is not the “barn burner” for a reason.

Linda Drane Burdick is going to leave that ball on the field for a spell.  Ashton will surreptitiously pick it up and head to the end zone unchallenged. 

 After all, that play did originate at the Orange Bowl.

Orlando, FL-  I know, everyone was looking for my analysis for the week on some of the most influential forensics evidence and experts to date.  You will have to wait.  I could simply not let this go.  Jose Baez, defense counsel for accused Filicidial frequent fornicator Casey Anthony is concerned his client might be viewed as a lesbian by the jury based on some photos in evidence.

I can’t take it.  I thought I could, I thought I could keep it objective.  I admit it, he is a Barristerific  Baffoon Extroirdinaire.

This defendant, this woman, with multiple simultaneous male sexual partners, an unknown baby daddy, the prosecution bases it’s case on the fact that she has a new boyfriend she is willing to kill her child over, and this is HIS REACTION?

“I would just lay out for our argument that any photos that would implicate or insinuate in any way that my client is a lesbian through the dancing she is doing with this other woman…”

It is maddening what an oaf this guy is with respect to being charged with saving a defendant’s life.  Having a jury perceive Casey as a lesbian is like Christmas in June for his client.  Not a lot of cases of lesbian-motivated filicide out there, and what is, is likely to be a new suspect for this suspect generating camp.

At that point Perry cuts him off and asks, “Have you been to nightclubs in the last three or four years?”
Baez says he has been, but noted that the average age of the jurors is 50 and that some members “would be extremely offended” by the image.

This from the business owner turned attorney of the now defunct Brazillian Bikini online store.

Seriously.

Blink is LIVE Tonight, Discussing the Casey Anthony Trial on the Dana Pretzer Show, Scared Monkeys Radio.

LISTEN LIVE HERE

Madeline Tanner, editor, www.blinkoncrime.com contributed to this report.