Posted on 05/09/2011 8:23:02 AM PDT by TheDingoAteMyBaby
CLEARWATER -- Prosecutors have turned to Pinellas County to find a jury for the trial of Casey Anthony, the suburban Orlando mother charged with killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.
Court officials in Orange County decided to move jury selection because of the extensive publicity surrounding the case since Caylee disappeared in June 2008.
Attorneys for the defense and prosecution will try to find 12 jurors and eight alternates to hear the evidence.
Orange County Circuit Judge Belvin Perry Jr., denied a motion by Anthony's attorney Jose Baez this morning to continue the trial.
Anthony told the judge this morning she was not interested in a plea deal.
The first group of 110 prospective jurors was brought into the courtroom about 10 a.m.
Anthony stood to face them as they entered the courtroom, occasionally whispering to her attorneys.
A veritable cross section of Pinellas County's population, some of the prospective jurors wore flip-flops, some dressed professionally and some had jeans with holes in them.
On Saturday, Perry issued an order denying another defense motion, to suppress an expert witness opinion about the source of a smell found in the trunk of Anthony's car.
Forensic testing found traces of chloroform, which can be used to induce unconsciousness and also is a component of human decomposition, in the trunk. In a 911 call, Cindy Anthony, Casey's mother, described the vehicle as smelling "like there's been a dead body in the damn car."
The defense tried to quash the opinion of a scientist at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory who tested a sample of the carpet from the trunk about whether any smell came from a decomposing human body.
(Excerpt) Read more at 2.tbo.com ...
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I believe each side can only excuse a max of 10 prospective jurors during Voir dire, is this correct?
Casey told investigators that she had last left Caylee with a babysitter who turned out to be non-existent. She gave the name of a real woman living in Kissimmee who had never met the Anthonys, and the woman sued Casey for defamation and punitive damages.
Often when mothers kill their children, they come up with a fake perpetrator. Which leaves me with another question; who and where is the little girl’s biological father?
I dunno, but in my experience the defense generally excuses anyone with an advanced degree in the hard sciences (including pharmacy, btw), while the prosecution rarely excuses anyone. I wasn’t counting but typically, the defense excuses about four jurors.
The defense is looking for people exactly like you today!
People who have no clue.
No one seems to know. I'm not sure Casey even knows considering the number of guys she has slept with.
they are going to have a jury full of retirees or stay at home moms who have older children - the breadwinners can not afford to stop working for 8 or more weeks and Moms with school age children won’t have anyone home to care for the kids during the day - I would think retirees might be good for the defense since they are sometimes more sympathetic but homemakers won’t be good for Casey - more judgemental and aware of what is typical vs. completely out of the norm behavior.
I work for a large company, that has spent literally millions and millions of dollars in the past ten years supplementing the military pay of employees called up for Guard duty. Basically, if an employ is called up for Guard duty, they make up the difference in pay for as long as his tour continues. In a little noticed move, they changed the policy on jury duty from paying the employee for the entire time to just the statutory minimum. In Massachusetts, an employer has to pay you for your first five days of jury duty (if you are scheduled to work), after which the State pays something like $50 smackers a day.
That is a very good point - I hadn’t even thought about the fact that employers pay for Guard duty so why don’t they pay for jury duty as well? Especially in a case like this one - where we need a good cross section of citizens who can listen and reason the facts presented.
“How about child molesters?”
Convicted ones go to prison, unconvicted ones go free.
“Do you want Mumia released?”
NO, he was convicted in a court of law.
“Manson?”
Of course not! He was found guilty, he was guilty.
“Who in their right mind would lead police detectives to the Disney grounds, down a hallway to her “supposed” office when she didn't even work there?”
This is a capital offense?
“She wasted time, lied, then threw temper tantrums when her lying wasn't getting her the usual result of getting her parents/others to back off and let her do what she wanted.”
Again, this is a capital offense?
You are right, we should save time and just strap her into old sparky right now! To hell with evidence. To hell with the trial. She's a liar, throw the switch.
I never said she was innocent. She has to be PROVED guilty. Being a liar and flaky doesn't make you a murderer. If they have proof, great.
Prior to Gulf War I it had not been either company policy or statutorially required to make up the difference between military pay and base salary. After 9/11 the cost of military pay became crushing, but to their credit they have kept up the policy. So it’s ok to join the National Guard, but you better make sure and get out of jury duty.
Of course I was being dramatic because I felt your comment that the prosecution was trying to “manufacture” a case was uncalled for. You made it sound like she was innocent and they were making up facts. I happen to think there is more than enough evidence to prove it was her that killed this child. Obviously someone did so who had access, motive and showed the most bizarre personality and actions? Not every case has video or a confession, but circumstancial evidence, in overwhelming amounts, is often enough to prove guilt.
Interesting point since one is voluntary and one isn’t..
The prosecution has a good case. I think the defense side is behind all the delay. They were hoping the facts have become diminished and fuzzy in the minds of prospective jurors.
At least Casey won’t get away with claiming that the jury was unfair due to all the publicity.
She did it and now she needs to answer for it.
No, prior to 9/11 they voluntarily paid employees for jury duty, regardless of the term, one guy served 18 months (!) on a Federal Grand Jury. After 9/11 jury duty pay was reduced to the statutory minimum, five days. It was only during Gulf War I that they changed the policy with regard to military leave, and that was voluntary. I don’t think employers have to pay anything for Guard Duty.
I have been reading today about the mediator/BFF of Casey Anthony, Rosalie Martinez Bolin, who is married to a three time convicted death row serial killer. She left her own husband and four daughters to marry the convict. Wow, Casey has someone who is almost a bad a mother as she is on her side!
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