UPDATED 3/24/2010 CLICK ON BANNER FOR PODCAST

Tonight Dana welcomes special guests:

• Clint VanZandt – Retired FBI agent and author will be discussing the Rodney Alcala case.  The convicted serial killer that may have more victims than Ted Bundy Rodney. He will also be discussing the recent news in the Natalee Holloway case and Joran Van der Sloot’s confession.
• Robin Sax -  Former Felony Crimes DA and Larry & Cherry Simpson discussing the murder of Lacey Gaines, Lacey was Larry and Cherry’s niece.    Your help is needed in solving this crime.
• Crime blogger Blink from BLINK ON CRIME will be discussing the latest events in the Casey/Caylee Anthony case and today’s release of documents.

 Discovery Review Part I

Orlando, FL– In the last 2 weeks in the case against infamous tot-mom Casey Anthony, The defense appears to be in an all out media blitz to support their recent motions for dismissal. Most legal analysts feel they have  missed the deadline for such tactics, and that could very well be the reason for the affront on public opinion recently.

The blinkoncrime.com editors have been scouring the recent discovery release. 

There are some very compelling facts the Spin Twins de Baez have conveniently overlooked.

The Duct Tape

Reported exclusively  at blinkoncrime.com last June, the Henkel Duck tape industrial grade was located on the skull of Caylee Marie, the  gas can and the shed at the Anthony residence. Today, WFTV after rifiling through some old footage, reminds us what we already knew.

(Editors note: Say what you will about Kathy Belich, that Dom Casey cheat sheet with her picture and “disseminating hatred towards the family” remark had her in that news room with a whip and a hot iron all day until they found it– I don’t blame her.)

Yesterday at Brad Conway’s client driven press conference, he specifically referenced there are no fingerprints on the duct tape. I heard it again this morning by Linda Kenney Baden.

Let’s break this down folks, shall we?

On NO document, that we have seen, does it state anywhere that there are no prints on that duct tape. Specifically, I am referring to FBI Evidence ID Q62, Q63 and Q64.

In fairness to the defense, with a combined experience mean of 2o years in the “expert” fields, less Jose “josebgood@yahoo.com” Baezs’ token 3 years, I can see how such academics could come to that conclusion for the time being.

Within the response to Kenney Baden’s discovery request from the FBI, this statement appears:

THE FBI DID NOT RECEIVE LATENT LIFTS IN THIS CASE

It does not say “latent impressions”, which in the forensic “speak” means all friction ridge detail images.

Seriously? With a woman’s very life hanging in the balance we are expected to believe such a panel does not know the difference between a latent lift and a friction ridge image in 2009? Not to be glib, but as a practical matter, as a layperson, just imagine when your scotch tape slips off the cutter and you stand there for 10 minutes trying to thread it again with your fingernail. If that did not immediately furrow your brow, you will be wrapping all the christmas presents this year.

 These assertions by the defense team are nothing more than an attempt to double dare the State to open their Kimono. Insert euphamisms at will. 

As a matter of fact, a close look at the examination protocol used by the FBI,  tells a very, very different story. 

Tape Q62, Q63, Q64 is originally presented  NOT to be tested for DNA. Who gets it first? Latent Print U and Chem. Why is this important? Because the two work together when we are talking about applying chemically based “lifting” techniques such as sticky powder, for example.  

Yes, before you ask, this is where the heart sticker residue is seen by LPU on the NON ADHESIVE side prior to it’s own testing procedures. That residue is consumed and no longer visible in this phase. You can assume LPU saw that image under ALS, not visible to the evidence collection unit or ECU. 

Occurring simultaneously, lets also assume a conscious decision is made to procure the latent images on the adhesive side of Q63, even at the risk of the consumption or ruin of residue of the alleged heart sticker that everyone already knew would not yield DNA. 

Who thinks there are no other digital originals of the duct tape, bearing the sticker residue from the Medical Examiners Officer or CSI in the field? While I agree the residue chemistry itself may have been probative, this was  not the woopsie the defense would lead you to believe.

LPU was assigned to do visual oversight when the Trace evidence unit, or TEU receives the samples next.  Ms. Fontaine has a T shirt she wears under her lab coat for just such an occasion.

It reads: DONT BE SWABBIN ON MY PRINT on the front, on the back it reads: I’LL JUST WAIT TO BE SURE.

Is that so that their friction ridge was not destroyed? OF COURSE.

Next stop The Questioned Documents Unit, or QDU. For those unfamiliar, this is another “ARod” Jose Baez so astutely coined the analogy when referring to Dr. Neal Haskell being on the State’s expert list.  This is where the mysterious “contamination” occurs. Brad Conway went as far as to say yesterday that this was a mysteryperson, a possible unsub if you will. Ms. Baden said it could be an alternative culprit. Yeesh.

It is clearly stated in the report that CONWAY released, that the ID from the partial profile, is Lorie Gottesman, of the QDU.

I am quite sure Ms. Gottesman has an alibis for June 16^th. Perhaps this is a good thing as I hear Ms. Gottesman is well versed in expert testimony.

Ppppssst. There are 2 other samples of the duct tape, all 3 latent results have not been released except to say that George, Lee and Cindy have been excluded.

Wouldn’t you have to have a control latent to compare them to in order to exclude  A N Y O N E?

Their ARE prints, folks. Eazy Peazy.

While we are on the subject of the tape, textile fibers WERE recovered from Q62 and Q64 and Q66 (house duct tape) and preserved for future testing.

It was not true to say there was no transfer evidence whatsoever, how would they know when those tests have not either been preformed or the results completed? Ms. Baden feels the public is being misled?

I would offer the misleading is being orchestrated by misinterpretation.

The decision was made to consider testing the tape for DNA after an initial pre-amplified DNA result came back from Baby Caylees tibia (I apologize for the graphic).

To be continued, blinkoncrime.com

Lyon is an associate Dean for Clinical programs and Professor at DePaul University School of Law. From her profile, Ms. Lyon claims to have defended over 30 potential capital cases at the trial level, and of those 30, 19 through the penalty phase, winning all 19.

(Editors Note: If a case is in the penalty phase, wouldn’t the term “winning” be an oxymoron? Perhaps a more succinct explanation means “19 of her convicted clients will not fry.”  Does that mean she tossed the other 11 losers right after conviction because she knew she had no prayer of saving their hides?)  

Baez delivered a 16 page amendment last night following court filing hours and expected the media, who has not as of yet been served, to appear and argue their request for the video of Casey Anthony in the prison infirmary following the news that remains of a small child had been found a few blocks from the Anthony home. Judge Strickland ruled they would have 7 days to intervene and he will hear their arguments to Baez amended motion late next week if requested. Counsel for the county objected several times as to specific incidents contained therein, and deposition transcripts they have not yet received.

Next up, attorneys for Roy Kronk, Jesse Grund and Amy Huzienga argued against the outstanding duces tecum motions surrounding their clients phone and text communication records as an invasion of privacy.

Collectively, a strong case presenting the lack of a good faith basis and materiality for the motion in the first place was argued by all.

Baez responded by alleging Jesse Grund, “for all intents and purposes,” was a suspect in this case who took a polygraph; the good faith basis has been established by the state in available discovery. He went on to say the OCSO should have requested this information from Roy Kronk; at which time Judge Strickland interrupted and informed him he was “straying” and that he did not wish to hear what “they” may have done wrong, but only what the defense good faith basis entails. 

Motion stayed pending attorney agreement, motion granted for non- present parties.

Enter Stage Left; Macaluso. I admit it, this is what I was waiting for. As a professional, I feel compelled to acknowledge I was not disappointed. I am on record from the announcement of his potential involvement on the defense team I felt he was the strongest chance Casey Anthony has at an actual defense strategy. Still do. His current embroilment in millions of dollars in civil litigation and looming California Bar charges notwithstanding. He is engaging, charismatic, said “um” the least and bar none had the coolest watch.

(editors note: I couldn’t get a tight enough shot but I’m pretty sure it was the un-affordable to most, Big Bang model Hubolt. Sweet.)