Defense Testimony RESTS~Casey Anthony Murder Trial~Thread#3 (June 27-June 30)George Anthony breaks down on the stand/Roy Kronk denies moving Caylee's body/3 forensic psychologists determinee Casey competant to stand trial/Casey WILL NOT take the stand!

I just noticed Casey's blouse, it's horrible! Those sleeves look like the 70's!

lindamarie wrote:That poor man. He can't hear or remember anything. He is finally excused.

LM, he always feigns this type of thing when he doesn't want anyone asking him questions he doesn't want to answer.

It seemed so natural that I thought maybe he had some dementia going on. Plus a hear loss.

First Posted: 06/27/11 06:53 PM ET
PDF file on this link

Casey Anthony's defense team filed a motion Monday asking the court to reconsider the death penalty, a direct response to a recent Florida court ruling in which a Miami federal court judge found the death penalty unconstitutional.

Monday's motion argues that the death penalty would be "in violation of the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and ... the Florida Constitution."

The motion cites the June 20 decision by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez to grant a new sentencing hearing to a convicted killer. In making his decision, Martinez found that the way the death penalty is handed down in Florida is unconstitutional because juries, unlike judges, are not required to explain what aggravating factor or factors led them to justify execution.

Martinez's ruling does not strike down Florida's capital punishment law, but it is proving to be a thorn in the side for lawmakers. Criminal justice experts have also voiced concerns that the decision will result in a flurry of appeals by the recently convicted, the Miami Herald reported.

In their motion, Anthony's legal team is asking the court to "declare a mistrial in this case and begin jury selection anew with a non-death-qualified jury."

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What the heck is that crazy Janie Weintraub saying on HLN? She is saying that this video clearly shows no body in the woods? How can she say that? I dont think either of those bumblers were anywhere near the body were they? Is that video close to where the remains were found? I missed part of testimony today

They were actually pretty close. But, those woods are like a swamp. In fact, it Is a swamp.

POSTED: Monday, June 27, 2011
UPDATED: 7:21 pm EDT June 27, 2011

ORLANDO, Fla. -- After a request by her own defense team, Casey Anthony was evaluated over the weekend and determined to be fit to stand trial.

Casey Anthony was evaluated by three court-appointed psychologists and psychiatrists to determine her competency to proceed in her first-degree murder trial.

Saturday's proceedings were abruptly halted around 9:45 a.m., and Judge Belvin Perry announced Monday morning this was because Anthony's attorneys filed a motion requesting Anthony be examined to determine her competency to proceed.

The motion was prompted by Anthony giving her defense team a "confidential communication," the motion said. The content of the message is not known.

Anthony was examined on Saturday and Sunday.

"Based upon the reports that the court has reviewed, the court will find that the defendant is competent to proceed," Perry said at the start of Monday's hearing, the 29th day of testimony.

Perry said the record of the evaluations will be sealed.

One of the psychologists, Dr. Ryan Hall, was interviewed by Local 6 in 2008 about his experience with studying women who have killed. At the time of the interview, Hall had not interviewed Anthony.

First thing Monday morning, an unrobed Judge Belvin Perry presented both sets of attorneys with packets of information, which contained a report from a forensic psychologist who is experienced with examining criminals in Florida.

Lead Detective Yuri Melich was the first witness called Monday morning.

Lead defense attorney Jose Baez questioned Melich about why he did not request phone transcripts for Roy Kronk through December 2008. Kronk is the meter reader who found Caylee’s body on Dec. 11, 2008.

Melich said he requested Kronk's records from June and July. Melich previously testified that he requested the records through December 2008, but on Monday acknowledged that he misspoke. He clarified that the error was not intentional, but the result of testifying about an extensive, three-year investigation.

Kronk had reported finding a body in the same location in August 2008, but the deputy dispatched to look into his claim said he found nothing.

Baez listed out all of the people involved in the case for whom Melich had cell phone records subpoenaed. Baez also noted that Kronk's computer records were not searched, either.

When Baez asked Melich if any of the Anthony family's cars were searched by cadaver dogs, he said no. A cadaver dog alerted to the smell of human remains in the trunk of Anthony's car and in the back yard of the Anthony home. During cross-examination, prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick pointed out that the other Anthony cars were not searched because none were reported to smell of a dead body.

Melich also answered Baez's questions about Anthony's arrest dates, bond dates and the electronic monitoring to which she was subjected to when out of jail on bond in the months leading up to her arrest on first-degree murder charges.

Orange County Sheriff's Office crime scene investigator Michael Vincent was then called. He reviewed a previous drawing of the Sheriff's Office's forensics bay where Anthony's white Pontiac Sunfire was examined. His questioning was brief.

OCSO crime scene investigator Gerardo Bloise was called back to the stand next. He processed Anthony's car for evidence. Baez asked Bloise if his investigation focused on solely Anthony's car. He said yes.

Baez then called K-9 handler Deputy Jason Forgey.

Forgey’s dog, Geris, alerted to the smell of a human body in the trunk of Anthony’s car and in the Anthony family back yard.

Baez asked Forgey several questions about bias and the possibility of a handler encouraging a dog to alert in a certain location.

Dr. Kenneth Furton, a professor in chemistry department at Florida International University, was then called.

Furton studies chemistry of human decomposition and the scent of human remains and was accepted as a forensic chemistry expert.

"It’s my expert opinion that there’s currently no instrumental method that has been scientifically validated to the level that it could be used to identify the presence or absence of human decomposition,” Furton said.

Furton said many of the compounds that were found in the trash of Anthony's trunk are the same on which Dr. Arpad Vass of the Oak Ridge Nation Laboratory is relying on to claim that there was a decomposing body in the trunk.

Vass has previously testified that air samples taken from the trunk of Anthony's car indicate human decomposition had taken place. He also said there was an unusually high level of chloroform in the air sample.

Several other state witnesses, including an entomologist and an FBI hair and fiber analyst, testified that evidence in the trunk shows a decomposing body was placed there for several days.

Furton also noted that chloroform is a common result when something has bleach or chlorine on it. He also said it can be found in things like milk and cheese. Velveeta wrappers were found in a bag of garbage in the trunk of Anthony's car.

Ashton asked Furton if there was one thing that could explain the findings of Dr. Vass and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, other than human decomposition.

Furton said a decompositional event that was not necessarily human decomposition could create the same compounds Vass used to determine human decomposition had occurred in the trunk. He said animal decomposition in combination with the breakdown of organic materials could produce similar results to human decomposition.

In cross-examination, Furton admitted that the garbage he was shown that was removed from the trunk would not still emit an odor two years later. The state has a sealed can with a piece of carpet from Anthony's car in it which is said to contain a "death smell."

Furton was deposed by the state on Saturday after some contention about his testimony.

OCSO Sgt. John Allen was then called. He was one of the main investigators in Caylee's disappearance.

Baez questioned him about his interactions with private investigator James Hoover.

Hoover volunteered to work with private investigator Dominic Casey, who was employed by the defense, and then the Anthony family, while Caylee was missing.

When he was called to testify after Allen, he said he is a licensed private investigator, but became involved in the case at first as a private citizen.

Hoover shot footage of Casey searching the wooded area near where Caylee's remains were later found in November 2008. Casey told investigators he was on the phone with a psychic during the search.

Allen said Hoover was trying to sell the footage to the National Enquirer and Allen interviewed Hoover with FBI agent Nick Savage.

Hoover's video was shown the the jury while he was on the stand Monday afternoon.

Hoover was questioned extensively about his attempts to sell the videos, none of which worked out. He said he did not need the money and would have given proceeds to the Anthony family.

During cross-examination, Hoover denied he was trying to capitalize on his relationship with the Anthony family.

The defense followed up Hoover's testimony by calling Casey to the stand.

Casey said he followed up on tips regarding Caylee's whereabouts and provided security for the family due to the constant presence of protestors at the Anthony family home.

Hoover and Casey testified extensively about their videotaped searches of the woods. Casey testified that in one of the video taped searches he was led by a psychic named Jeanette Lucas to find Caylee. In an interview several years ago with Local 6 reporter Mike DeForest, Casey said he was on the phone with a relative. He later changed his story.

Casey said he never gave Hoover permission to record his first search on Nov. 15, 2008.

Casey said he went back to search the same area off Suburban drive on Nov. 16, 2008, to prove the psychic wrong about Caylee being there.

Casey said he never saw Caylee's remains in the 15 minutes he spent in the area searching. He said he gave Hoover permission to record the second search, but not to record audio, which he did. Casey said Monday was the first time he heard the recorded audio.

Casey was never in the exact spot where Caylee's remains were found.

In cross-examination, the prosecution asked Casey if he was sent to that area by the Anthony family. He said no.

Casey Anthony said his searches in November were the only time he was searching for Caylee's body. He said all of his other work was an attempt to find Caylee alive.

Monday marked the longest day of the trial, with Casey's testimony lasting until after 7 p.m.

Monday morning, Anthony's defense filed a motion requesting a new trial and a new jury in her murder trial.

Death penalty expert attorney Ann Finnell filed a motion Monday morning calling for a new trial and a new jury. The current jury is "death penalty qualified," meaning they said during jury selection they could impose the death penalty if Anthony is convicted of first-degree murder.

Finnell's motion requests a new trial with a jury who has not been asked about their ability to impose the death penalty.

The motion is based in part on a ruling last week by a federal judge in Miami. The judge ruled that juries should determine the aggravating factors in sentencing criminals to die, not judges, and that the Florida death penalty is unconstitutional.

The ruling is expected to be argued in appellate courts for several years and although it does not strike down the death penalty, it could give death row members another opportunity to appeal.

Perry said Finnell's motion will be heard later this week.

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By Anthony Colarossi and Bianca Prieto, Orlando Sentinel

7:15 p.m. EDT, June 27, 2011

Casey Anthony's defense team is urging Chief Judge Belvin Perry to declare a mistrial in the young woman's murder trial, according to a motion her attorneys released this afternoon.

The motion cites a recent federal court ruling on a South Florida case that said the state's death penalty statute is unconstitutional.

The defense wants Perry to hold a hearing on the issue, order the prosecution to file a memorandum of law on the issue and protect Anthony's due-process rights by declaring the statute unconstitutional.

It also asks Perry to "declare a mistrial in this case and begin jury selection anew with a non death-qualified jury."

The motion was filed by defense death-penalty expert Ann Finnell, who told Perry she wants an opportunity to argue the motion later this week.

Perry told her to notify state prosecutors about her plans. He put the proceedings in recess at 7:15 a.m. The trial could resume as early as 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Casey Anthony, 25, is accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee Marie in the summer of 2008. The toddler's remains were found in December of that year in woods near her family's east Orange County home.

The defense team's latest attempt to get a mistrial comes hours after Perry announced that Anthony had been declared competent for trial.

A secret conversation between Anthony and her lawyers prompted them to ask for an emergency competency hearing and halted court Saturday, according to court records released this morning.

"Counsel reasonably believes that Ms. Anthony is not competent to aid and assist in her own defense and is incompetent to proceed," stated the two-page motion filed in court Saturday.

The details of the privileged conversation between Anthony and her attorneys were not part of the public record released this morning.

Perry responded that same day by ordering forensic psychologists Dr. Harry A. McClaren of Chattahoochee; and Dr. Ryan C.W. Hall of Lake Mary; as well as psychologist Dr. Daniel Tressler of Altamonte Springs — to evaluate Anthony at the Orange County Jail.

The psychologists determined Anthony is competent to stand trial.

Each was asked to look into Anthony's ability to consult with her counsel with a rational understanding, as well as a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings.

The doctors also evaluated her ability to understand the legal process, disclose pertinent facts to her attorney regarding the proceedings, behave appropriately in court, and testify relevantly.

Perry ordered the doctors to submit a written report to the court. That medical report is sealed, but not the motion requesting the psychological evaluations, Perry said.

James Hoover questioned about tapes

Late today, James Hoover, who worked as a private investigator for the Anthonys, testified and authenticated video tapes of a search off Suburban Drive conducted in mid-November 2008, less than a month before Caylee's body was found.

Hoover said they searched in the area where Caylee's remains were ultimately found, although the prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick objected, saying he had no direct knowledge of the exact location of her remains.

Jurors viewed the tapes. It shows some searching along Suburban Drive. It also shows a search through plastic bags around some sheds.

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She can be found guilty of several of these verdicts cant she? Is that what interlocking verdicts means?

On HLN at this time is breaking news reported that Kronk has been ordered to report to court in the early morning tomorrow.

TerryRose wrote:On HLN at this time is breaking news reported that Kronk has been ordered to report to court in the early morning tomorrow.

I hope that is accurate. I feel Friday is a good day to let this go to the Jury. Their lives have been on hold long enough.

Hmmm, why is Nancy Grace saying that it was Casey who wanted to be declared incompetent? That is not anything I have heard yet--it would seem more likely that she wants to testify and that is why CM made the motion? It is the only of the six points (Ability to testify relevantly) that she would seem to be incapable of?

She probably just found out the results when she came out happy? Then they were given the reports to support the ruling.

That is my interpretation at the moment, but I suppose there are more than one!

I just watched Casey's entry into court again and WOW, I think her demeanor is "proud"...she definitely looks happy and it makes sense to me that she found out she is competent? She says, "I'm alright" to one of the gang out of sight.

I guess in her mind, she thinks she is "alright" and can still murder her child. Unreal this chick is!

artgal16 wrote:She can be found guilty of several of these verdicts cant she? Is that what interlocking verdicts means?

Not certain, but yes..I think that's what it means.

Oh, Lord...Kronk day tomorrow. Then, probably River Cruz and then George and they w/be done.

I do not know how they are going get George to be an asset?

Heike wrote:Hmmm, why is Nancy Grace saying that it was Casey who wanted to be declared incompetent? That is not anything I have heard yet--it would seem more likely that she wants to testify and that is why CM made the motion? It is the only of the six points (Ability to testify relevantly) that she would seem to be incapable of?

She probably just found out the results when she came out happy? Then they were given the reports to support the ruling.

That is my interpretation at the moment, but I suppose there are more than one!

I saw that too, Heike, and have been all over the web looking for something to back up Nancy's "BREAKING NEWS" banner which was that Casey wanted to end the trial because she's mentally ill. I can't find a thing and concluded that it's more of Nancy's sensationalism with a little bit of truth thrown in for flavor.

Mark Eiglarsh said he was in the courtroom today and what came to mind during the testimony of Hoover and Casey was "Dumb and Dumber meets the Blair Witch Project".

BJ wrote:Mark Eiglarsh said he was in the courtroom today and what came to mind during the testimony of Hoover and Casey was "Dumb and Dumber meets the Blair Witch Project".

PRICELESS!!!! :cheering:

I am still watching Hoover on redirect...what a mess of a man, and Baez is such a weasel! Whose witness is this....incredible!!!!

I really hate to go to sleep after this session--either nightmares or serious indigestion are pretty much a given! hahahaha

When ask why he was searching in the wooded area his reply was, "I conducted the search in the woods to prove the psychic wrong."

I guess she was better than he thought she was. :crystal ball:


and I've been wondering about those pavers since we first heard about them (2 years ago?)
How did they get there and what was their purpose? Yep... they were markers.

Casey looks like a very busy front office girl, NiteSpinR.

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Casey looked so darn happy this morning before JP announced that she was competent to stand trial. I bet she thought she would be deemed incompetent, spend 6 months in a mental facility working on her moves and go right back to Fusion and win a Hot Body Contest. Surprise, surprise, Casey. It didn't work! You better learn to paddle, you're going up the river!

Heike wrote:

BJ wrote:Mark Eiglarsh said he was in the courtroom today and what came to mind during the testimony of Hoover and Casey was "Dumb and Dumber meets the Blair Witch Project".

PRICELESS!!!! :cheering:

Mark is a crack up!!!! Today was something else! I don't think I have laughed like that in months!! I couldn't stop. If you're ever in a bad mood, watch DC on the stand..you won't be for long. He has a longggg reputation as a snake and a nutjob. When I heard he was working for Bozo, I about flipped. Then, when I heard he headed to work for the Ant's, I knew they had lost their minds!!

And, LP told Hoover he could make 200 grand off those cd's???

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BILL SHEAFFER: Analysis Of Casey Murder Trial Day 40

WFTV legal analysis Bill Sheaffer discusses Casey Anthony's murder trial on day 40.

A Must-See!!

Tried to catch up on everything. Getting harder now w/ the kids all home from School!
Found ICA's demeanor to be unbelievable yest. b4 the proceedings! (ICA= Inmate CA) love it!

Roy Kronk and Yuri Melich are in the witness holding area this morning. per insession

And there she is...I sense a coolness between her and CM that wasn't there before...

Starting off with another sidebar...I know that JP is happy!

Some different deputies on the scene today with some familiar ones...I guess they want their share of the overtime too...

Yuri again. :cheering:

They w/ask him all kinds of questions about Kronk..which Bozo already did yesterday. sigh

WESH blog: State added some Gentiva employees to witness list--must be to refute CA's claim that she wasn't at work when those chloroform searches were done.

From WESH blog:
Confirmed Gentiva witnesses: Don Platt, lead tech. specialist, Kansas; John Camperlengo, senior VP/general counsel, Atlanta

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Joe Jordan coming to witness stand. I guess he's going to show the jury that LE didn't follow tips that would have shown Caylee wasn't there earlier...

lisette wrote:WESH blog: State added some Gentiva employees to witness list--must be to refute CA's claim that she wasn't at work when those chloroform searches were done.

:cheering: :cheering: :cheering: :cheering:

Mason always has a way of trying to make you feel guilty just for being alive. He is great at belittling people.

How Dare this man search for a missing child!

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Read the defense motion for mistrial

Witness searched the wooded area with a cadaver dog.

Jordan brought two dogs to sniff the baby blanket he saw 5 feet in down the street from where remains were found. M: Ever taken back out there to be shown exact area where remains found? Yes, with Ward Churchill

Mason is trying to say the body was not there when Jordan searched. bla bla bla

He sent an email that he searched the area with dogs to LE

The woods were under water!! Why can't the defense get that through their thick noggins??

lindamarie wrote: He sent an email that he searched the area with dogs to LE

Why is that a ?

9:17

Tony Pipitone:
Casey reads the sidebars on live transcript on laptop. She would be advised not to say anything in court.

This is guy is blase'. He does not want to be there and he darn sure doesn't like Mason.

LDB has to move CM's stuff out of the way before she can start...Happens all the time. She shows how professionals are supposed to perform...