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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
Orlando, FL– I swear on my Blinkette’s, at no time, did I ever picture the word that rhymes with “euchebag” if you add a D, would appear in a title on my site. Today’s testimony by Academy Of Parental Enablers Resulting in Toddler Death President (AOPERTDP), Cindy Anthony , took the strand. I said strand on purpose. I am convinced the elusive 17th allele comes from her. I daydream she left it on the shovel by attempting to dig herself a hole following the conclusion of her filicidic daughter’s trial.
No such luck. This former Gentiva Supervisor, Licensed by the state of Florida as a registered nurse, now thinks she may have been home on the days of March 17th and March 21st and her former employer, required her and other salaried employees to falsify their timecards in an agency subject to HIPAA regulations.
Mrs. Anthony, although it would mean she came home for less than 30 minutes on both days, if she indeed returned to work, brought her own smell of decomposition. Decomposition of her loyalty to the legacy of her 34 month old grandbaby, Caylee Marie. By the time of this publication, I have requested comment from John Camperlengo, Gentiva Chief Compliance Officer, and will post upon reply.
UPDATE: The Following Is the Reply I received from Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel to Gentiva, John Camperlengo, published with permission.
Thanks for your note. As a matter of policy, Gentiva does not comment on matters being litigated before the courts. What we can tell you is Gentiva complies with all relevant Federal and State regulations, rules and guidelines concerning patient and staff records. And we cooperate fully with responsible authorities when requested to aid them in research in investigations. Best Regards, John
O and Cindy, thanks for bringing up your concerns about the dogs eating bamboo leaves. Further computer forensic scrutiny shows that the dogs were PRECLUDED from being in the backyard as a result. Which, Casey knew, and certainly strongly assissted in avoiding detection of her granddaughter’s remains in her playhouse for days. Not to creepy, not to soul-less, right? Did the Baez/Rosebud braintrust consider they gave the jury exactly what they needed to explain Casey Anthony’s alternative universe and fancy for pathological lying? Apples and Trees, as we say in Jersey. God Rest this child in your loving care, which begining June 16th, is the only loving care that has mattered.
(Editor’s Note: I apologize in advance for offending any readers with my editorial, I am a victim’s avocate before a journalist anyday.)
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.
