DNA Test Hearing Set Thursday, 11/18, In Anthony Case/Hearing by Phone, Not Live-Streamed

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A hearing will be held this week in the case against Casey Anthony, court officials announced on Monday.
On Thursday, Judge Belvin Perry will hear arguments on a defense motion that asks for approval of DNA testing for two hair samples.
Each of the tests would cost $1,042, which if approved, would be paid for with taxpayer money.
The hair in question is the sample found in Anthony's trunk that has the so-called death band on it, suggesting Caylee Anthony's dead body was in the trunk at some point.
Anthony was declared indigent in March, meaning defense costs are doled out by a state agency.
Anthony's defense team and the Justice Administrative Council, which distributes state funds for indigent clients, will hold the hearing with Perry by phone. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

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There's a hearing Thursday in the case against Casey, but her defense attorneys won't be in the courtroom, because the hearing will be conducted on the phone. It's expected to last only a few minutes.
A status conference is scheduled for November 29 at the courthouse. Casey is not required to attend.

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Perry OKs More DNA Testing In Anthony Case
Defense Gets Approval For Out-Of-State Testing

POSTED: 2:06 pm EST November 18, 2010
UPDATED: 4:33 pm EST November 18, 2010


ORLANDO, Fla. -- An Orange County judge granted a defense motion on Thursday to allow further testing of DNA evidence in the Casey Anthony case.

Neither Casey Anthony nor her attorneys appeared at the hearing in person. Anthony's defense team called into the hearing by telephone.
The defense asked to spend about $2,000 in additional taxpayer money to have a lab in Pennsylvania check for DNA on a bag and some shorts found with Caylee Anthony's remains.
Originally, the defense wanted to send the materials to a lab in Holland, but Orange County Chief Judge Belvin Perry denied that request.
The Justice Administrative Commission, which oversees the spending of taxpayer funds, wanted Anthony defense lawyer Jose Baez to use a lab in the state of Florida.
Since Anthony has been declared indigent, that panel oversees the public money spent on her defense.
During the hearing, Baez claimed that none of the state labs were certified The American Society of Crime Lab Directors. Brad Bischoff, representative for the JAC, could not confirm that any of the labs JAC lists as vendors are confirmed by ASCLAD.
Judge Belvin Perry said since the court had agreed that the items needed to be tested by an ASCLAD lab, he granted Baez's request to send the items to a lab in Pennsylvania called National Medical Services and spend the money on the testing.
Last week, the JAC filed papers objecting to the defense's request to spend the extra money and arguing an in-state lab could do the DNA work just as well.

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If anyone is interested in watching, there is a video of this hearing by telephone at:

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