Jail House Tape of Casey Anthony May Be Released

From WESH.com


Tape Of Casey's Remains Reaction May Be Released

Judge Previously Ordered Video Be Sealed


ORLANDO, Fla. -- Now that the verdict is in and Casey Anthony has been found not guilty of murdering or abusing her daughter, Caylee, a controversial videotape could surface.
On Dec. 11, 2008, after weeks of extensive searches, the Central Florida community watched media reports with bated breath as remains of a child were found off Suburban Drive in the area of the Anthony family home. The remains were found by a meter reader named Roy Kronk who had wandered into the woods to relieve himself. They had been under water for several weeks due to Tropical Storm Fay.

Casey Anthony, now 25, was in the Orange County Jail at the time and was brought to a nurse's station at the jail and seated where she could see breaking news coverage on TV about the discovery of a child's remains. A video camera documented her reaction, and since the trial is over, a motion has been filed with the court to release the tape. The case's original judge, Stan Strickland, had previously ordered that video be sealed.


The young mother doubled over twice and appeared to hyperventilate, according to the source who has seen the tape. Investigators said the tape shows Anthony's consciousness of guilt, because the remains had not yet been identified as her daughter. A few days later in a somber press conference, Medical Examiner Dr. Jan Garavaglia confirmed the remains belonged to Caylee Marie Anthony, then 2 years old.
At the time, Anthony's defense attorneys, including lead attorney Jose Baez, said it was "outrageous and cruel" for officials to videotape their client's reaction to news that a child's body was found near her home.
"Let's face it, there is nothing 'normal' about anyone's reaction to losing a child," Anthony's attorneys said in a statement. "Everyone handles personal tragedy in an individual way."

Note that the expression "let's face it" is an attempt to persuade acceptance. 

This is the same explanation Baez and fellow defense attorney Cheney Mason used to prove Anthony's innocence during the six-week trial when they brought in a grief counselor who, although she had never accessed Casey Anthony personally, testified that anything is a "normal" reaction to grief and loss and that everyone deals with death differently. The prosecution argued that drinking and partying, getting tattoos and shopping -- which is what Anthony did for the 31 days her daughter was missing -- could not possibly be a normal grief reaction.


In the end, according to the jury of 12, the state did not have enough evidence to convict Anthony of first-degree murder or aggravated child abuse. The only charges she was found guilty of were four counts of lying to law enforcement.

With time served and gain time for good behavior, Anthony will be released from jail on July 17. It is unclear where she will go when she is freed as the relationship with her parents, George and Cindy Anthony, appears to have been strained by allegations from her defense of sexual abuse within the family.

The motion argues that although the video was originally ruled to be highly inflammatory if it was released, because the trial is completed there is no risk of prejudice to the defendant's right to a fair trial.


Read more: http://www.wesh.com/casey-anthony-extended-coverage/28487710/detail.html#ixzz1Rhl8iIMO