After doing a hundred-plus Nancy Grace shows on CNN's Headline News, now called HLN, and spending three years involved with the media side of the case, I thought I'd blog my thoughts exclusively for NSBNews.net. The jury has spoken and Casey Anthony is a free woman as of 12:14 this Sunday morning.
She was released from the 33rd Street Jail in Orlando for time served -- with good behavior tossed in -- for her conviction of lying to Orange County Sheriff's Office investigators when 2-year-old daughter Caylee Marie Anthony went missing in the summer of 2008.
Courtesy photo / One of myriad photos in evidence at the Casey Anthony trial showing mom and daughter.Casey Anthony was found “not guilty” earlier this month of first-degree murder in the death of Caylee. It was a no-win situation to be a juror on this case with the outcome they delivered. If it would have been a guilty verdict, there wouldn't have been a problem, but instead it was a "not guilty" verdict.
It wasn't an acquittal, just "not guilty."
Many jurors have told media outlets that they were sickened by the outcome. People in the streets around the courthouse in Orlando went bonkers!
Folks in our fair country seem to forget this is the same judicial system we live and die by. This is the system that we've operated with for a couple of centuries. However, this was a "made for TV" case three years ago when it broke: A young mother. Her daughter not reported missing for 30 days. The nanny who didn't exist. A dysfunctional family. A defendant who consistently lied to police. A woman who stole from her parents. Casey's mother, Cindy, may have perjured herself when she testified. Add in the local and cable TV hype. The alleged suicide try by father George Anthony in a Daytona Beach motel. The brother who is also not all there.
With these elements at work, you had the perfect storm.
The one thing I recall saying during my second appearance on the Nancy Grace show on July 25, 2008: "This is a dysfunctional family and all of a sudden it's out in the open."
Courtesy photo / Journalist Mark Williams was a frequent guest of HLN's Nany Grace for much of the murder investigation.I also said twice during subsequent appearances that Casey "must be judged by a jury of her peers." Nancy Grace chided me for reminding her of the basics of law.
There were days I made an appearance that I thought Ms. Grace was out of control and had an agenda to push.
I'm surprised she didn't implode on the set on Tuesday, July 5th. Said peers have spoken and not only are jurors being threatened, but so are George and Cindy.
Even though he retired right after the trial, prosecutor Jeff Ashton is taking it on the chin.
If Casey thinks she's going to party at Fusion on Orange Avenue in Orlando any time soon, it ain't gonna happen. This gal will not be able to lead any sort of a life.
If Casey thinks she's going to party at Fusion on Orange Avenue in Orlando any time soon, it ain't gonna happen. This gal will not be able to lead any sort of a life.
A lot of people believe she's guilty. The prosecution huffed and puffed, but they didn't connect the dots. The biggest thing missing was Casey's DNA either on the Caylee's body or anywhere near where the crime scene was.
There were two winners: Jose Baez and Cheney Mason. However, they were out in left field. Remember Baez's opening statements of a terrible pool accident and George helping dump the body. And accusations of George sexually molesting Casey. They failed to produce any witnesses to bolster the bombastic claim.
Jose Baez was like the ultimate talk show host: Toss everything against the wall and see what sticks. The bottom line: Everyone is a loser in this case; the jurors, the prosecution, the Anthonys, and most of all, little Caylee Marie.
Jose Baez was like the ultimate talk show host: Toss everything against the wall and see what sticks. The bottom line: Everyone is a looser in this case; the jurors, the prosecution, the Anthonys, and most of all, little Caylee Marie.
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