Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Casey Anthony Verdict - Discuss

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160 comments:

sinkabella said...

VERDICT IN! 2:15EST! FRY!

Patty said...

Enty, you want to take the day off but current events keep pulling you back in .

GladysKravitz said...

My prediction is a guilty verdict. If the jury was out less than a day, that means the case was pretty cut and dried to them. From this end, anyway, the defense case looks pretty weak, so I think that the early verdict= a guilty verdict.

And there will be appeal after appeal. That's ok. Casey's life in prison will be horrific. Female prisoners who are separated from their own families are not going to act too kindly toward someone who completely abandoned and destroyed her own child.

PM said...

I disagree. I was recently released and spent a lot of time with women who did horrific things to their children... It most likely caused a stir when she first entered the prison, but her flirty attitude and good looks will make her very popular.

Wee S said...

Bitch got off!! How?!!

Anonymous said...

I knew she was going to get off. She is more than likely guilty, but weak evidence shouldn't convict anyone.

Anonymous said...

How in the world did these idiots find her not guilty?! How could they possibly see those photos of her partying even after she SAYS she knew her daughter had died and not know right off the bat she did it?! What a travesty!

Jackie said...

This really upsets me. Why not guilty? Why?

pilly said...

OJ part 2. What the FUCK!?!?!?

GladysKravitz said...

OMFG. I cannot believe it. This makes me incredibly sad.

pilly said...

OJ part 2. What the FUCK!?!?!?

pilly said...

OJ part 2. What the FUCK!?!?!?

WednesdayFriday said...

I have no f-ing words.

bflogurl said...

I have really lost faith in our judicial system.

RocketQueen said...

This is bullshit. Absolute bullshit.
I think the defense presented a great case, but COME ON. Bitch is guilty as hell.
I'm so disappointed right now. It's O.J. all over again.
This person should be behind bars for the rest of her natural life.
I've only read so far she's not guilty of Murder 1...perhaps something else?

Anonymous said...

Evidence is required to convict someone. Circumstantial evidence has convicted many innocent persons.

Do I think she is guilty, yes. Did the prosecution do its job, no.

BigMama said...

i am stunned.....nancy grace is probably having a stroke right about now

Susan said...

This is fucking insanity. INSANITY!!! I am so pisseed off right now.

SkittleKitty said...

Having served on a jury (fortunately for something much less heinous), I can say that I am not surprised. Jurors want some certainty and the evidence (proof!) just wasn't there.

Do I think she's guilty of harming, probably killing, her child? Yes, absolutely. Was the case proven beyond a reasonable doubt? Not from what I read/saw.

mikey said...

Another reason why I believe we should have professional jurors. I get the feeling they were tired of being away from familiy/friends and just wanted to get it over with. Totally fucked up verdict.

evergrey said...

I'm just as shocked! as all of you. I seriously seriously thought they would find her guilty.

My only thought as to why she was not convicted was because they didn't have the evidence to tie her directly to the act of the crime - only to "after the fact". Plus there was no theory presented on how Caylee died as a direct result of Casey.

But STILL!!! If she didn't do it, the who the heck did?? (That's a rhetorical question.)

Wee S said...

I gather shes a free woman now? Lying to police isn't gonna get you much time behind bars - maybe she'll get off with time spent on remand?

Nonetheless, it absolutely sickens me - she's as guilty as hell.There should be a sweepstake of how long it takes her before shes out living the D-list life, getting more tats and partying it up with Lindsay etc. Because she will. Her actions during Caylee's disappearance show this.

Between this verdict and the Milly Dowler hacking scandal in the UK...I just don't know anymore..shocking.

RocketQueen said...

mikey - I'm wondering that also. Didn't one of them have tickets for a cruise leaving tomorrow?

Ol Cranky said...

I am so utterly astounded by this verdict that the OJ Simpson jury nullification actually makes more sense in comparison

Mother Campfire said...

Well, Mommy claimed she did the google searches so there was no 'first degree' to speak of. She knew what she was doing.

Bitch will do it again. Trust.

Missjenny619 said...

I am fuming pissed off. Absolutely enraged!!!!

I hope she is miserable every single day that she breathes. Karma is a motherfucker!

nunaurbiz said...

1) This case would never have gotten publicized (and probably not gone to trial) if not for Nancy Grace's histrionics.

2) It was NOT a solid case for the state. The state has the burden of proof and they didn't have it.

It's my belief that Casey did kill Caylee, but it was an accident and Casey's MEGA mental illness(es) made her react the way she did.

Anonymous said...

I work in the legal field with trial lawyers. (Civil litigation, not criminal law.) We saw this coming.

Blame the prosecution. If they presented a case and in 10 short hours the jurors unanimously agreed that she was not guilty then the evidence was not compelling and/or it was poorly presented.

What a damn pity, too.

Mango said...

I think she did it but there was no direct evidence.
I hope that vigilante justice will take care of this piece of work and that she never walks free.

fairylights said...

I had a feeling this is the way it would go. Having observed our local child services, which seem more interested in the 'rights' of the adults than the welfare of the child, it's not that great a surprise.

KiKi said...

I'm numb and in shock and, Big Momma, that's excactly what I was thinking!

Ice Angel said...

I guess people need to learn the definition of the word "reasonable." It is not "reasonable" to believe that Caylee drowned in a pool and Casey decided to throw her in a garbage bag and get on with her Bella Vitae. I just don't get it. It's not ANY doubt...it's any REASONABLE doubt!!!

KLM said...

This is so fucked up. My heart is breaking again for that little girl. This is sickening.

Sonia in MO said...

Unreal. But no matter what, an innocent little girl is still dead. What happens for her now? Who will be brought to justice, for her, now? Who will take the blame for this baby's death???

I notice her parents bolted after the verdict was read. I wonder if they will now be under scrutiny.

You know, the defense can celebrate... smile and pat themselves on the back. But that baby is still dead.

Anonymous said...

Seeing Casey laugh and hug her lawyers afterward just fills me with fury. Even if she is innocent, which there's no way in hell is is, how could she possibly laugh and celebrate her acquittal, knowing her little girl is dead? If someone murdered my hypothetical child, or even if she died accidently, you can bet your sweet ass I wouldn't be whoopin' it up in the courtroom. If I had a child die and had been put on trial and had to hear and see everything that happened to her body, I can guarandamntee it would be a cold day in hell before I laughed again. She's a horrible, horrible person, and I hope she is a pariah the rest of her pathetic life.

Diane said...

I will be going home to hug my little boy tonight & will pray for that little girl that wont be getting any hugs anymore ... I'm so saddened by this news.

RocketQueen said...

I'm sorry, no "accident" results in duct tape around the mouth or requires searches by Casey on "how to make chloroform" which are then deleted. She killed this girl and then partied until she couldn't party any more.

I really thought the female prosecutor (sorry, forget her name) on the last day of rebuttal was dead on when she said "Use your common sense". Doesn't look to me like the jurors did.

Casual Observer said...

I am just sick.

BigMama said...

@Diane - I had the same thought about my babies. they are getting extra long hugs tonight. *sigh*

Jill said...

Whether or not she's guilty of murdering Caylee isn't for me to say, but I do feel 100% comfortable in saying that anyone who is capable of acting the way she did when her child was missing is definitely capable of something so horrible. I have a feeling 'reasonable doubt' will haunt us all when this woman commits another horrendous act.

The Nightmare Child said...

To quote Don King: "Only in America..."



We spend billions locking up people for smoking a silly little plant, but if you kill your kid, you can be home in time for for Happy Hour.


Awesome. Just awesome. I didn't follow this case but I can assure everyone that she will be killed or someone will try to kill her. That's how prison society works. If she isn't killed...they'll put her in solitary, she'll get out, do Baba Wawa & get a phat paycheck, do a book or two, get another phat paycheck and we'll see her on Celebrity Rehab in ten years.



So everyone just calm the fuck down. She'll get hers. Eventually. They always do.

Wee S said...

Very true @Nightmare Child...but i'd predict 'celebrity' rehab for her in 2 years. She is quite the trainwreck indeed. For now, its a game of 'wait-and-see'.

But that poor child. Some people just don't deserve children.

Unknown said...

being white goes a long way if Casey was black her ass would have been up under the jail SMFH

mikey said...

RocketQueen - yep, I heard about the tickets, too. Common sense seems to be lacking these days.

Anyone with kids will tell you they "lost" their child once for five minutes and the world stood still, their heart pounded and they couldn't breath until the child was found. Usually hiding behind a rack of clothing. You don't kick up your heels and go partying.

MadLyb said...

don't say anything...don't say anything...just keep typing like this and you'll keep out of trouble...

MadLyb said...

It worked!

RocketQueen said...

@babyg...uh, OJ Simpson was black, he got off.

Reese said...

@Rocket Queen: Voltaire was right: Common sense is not so common.

I'm another one in favor of professional jurors.

Anonymous said...

she's not going to prison, so there'll be no solitary confinement.

nunurabiz, summed up my thoughts perfectly.

Anonymous said...

Touche babyg...

Sue Ellen Mishkey said...

I was thinking the same thing, MadLyb.

So far, so good.

Anonymous said...

black athlete kills dogs: 2 years in jail. white woman kills her own child: not guilty. gotta love the american justice system.

Anonymous said...

@Sandman, wasn't there a ton of evidence that easily convicted Michael Vick? Apples and oranges. I'm not saying race or income don't play a part but that comparison doesn't really work.

Anonymous said...

I doubt she'll do any reality tv anything as I don't think anyone would want to touch her. She'll likely go the Karla Homolka route and do everything to change her appearance and move out of state and petition to change her name.

SusanB said...

I'm just in shock. And the sad thing is: she'll be a millionaire in about a year, what with book deals, TV interviews and in 2 years, Dancing With the Stars. This is just heartbreaking.

timebob said...

Jurors will not speak to the media and Judge Perry is blocking their names from being released (for now).

I don't think they have any idea of the shit storm that is waiting for them.

skeeball said...

I cannot believe this verdict! she is walking away with no consequences once again, she will continue to live her scheming slimy life and Cindy will keep supporting her ass. where is she going to live now that she(through her attorneys publicly accussed George and Lee of molestation? Oh wait, they will let her live with them cause they are afraid of her, and they KNOW she is a murderer. You better watch your backs, George and Cindy!

jax said...

i think the jurors did not want to be responsible for putting someone-anyone- to death.

i think they think she was guilty but ultimately didn't want to live with that.

PM said...

No consequences??? How about over 3 years in prison and the shame that was brought upon her family. Don't disregard how damaging that can be, and how many hours she has been forced to sit and ponder her choices.

Lizzie said...

I believe she's guilty, but I also think the lawyers for the State of Florida did a horrible job, on many levels, and their attitudes came off very unlikeable. But for me, when attorney Ashton, got up there in closing and admitted that the meter reader "did" know the body was there....I thought, wow, that's huge, cause they had said differently during trial, and wondered about the effect on the jury.
I also think Casey is mentally ill from being raised by a couple of nut cases.
Who lied and lied on the stand, so the jury may have discounted everything they said. I don't know.

AMD said...

I had a feeling she'd get off. The prosecution was pretty inept. Now she can admit she murdered her daughter because she's a horrible, selfish cunt that doesn't deserve the honor of being a cunt.

Maybe we'll get lucky. Maybe she'll get into a horrific car accident on her way home and the authorities will have to scrape her up with shovels.

timebob said...

PM i agree her life was upended for 3 years but 3 years in county jail isn't 25 to life in federal prison or lethal injection.

Just another sociopath that got away with murder.

I hope the DA charges Cindy Anthony with perjury and she gets more jail time then Casey did.

KLM said...

I didn't follow the case closely, so this is just my impression of her, but I don't think Casey Anthony feels shame or depravity. I think she will be able to live her life without thinking about what she has done or losing sleep over her actions. I hope upon hope that Dexter Morgan pays her a visit before someone else gets in her way.

Tiffany said...

Boozin, screwin, and tattooin thats how you react when you can't find your toddler. I just about lost my friggin lunch. I can't find my kids for 31 seconds and I am a freak. Either these jurors were total idiots or our justice system sucks. Maybe both

bluebonnetmom said...

They say even on the Felony of lying to the police that the SORRY ASS BITCH will be out of jail on Thursday with time served already. I want to see if her family welcomes this lying, murderous whore back with open arms. She would be dead to me forever. I am just mad as HELL right now. And in regards to OJ, we ALL KNOW he is guilty. And I would say that if he was white, brown, green or purple.

amazonblue said...

I think jurors hinge everything on DNA these days. I believe people think they can't convice unless there is unquestionable proof of guilt. Before DNA evidence people were convicted on circumstanial evidence. Yes, many were innocent, but nowadays a circumstanial guilty is far rarer.

I agree with previous comments that Casey is going to have to watch her back. Somebody is going to go after her for vigilanty justice for Caylee.

Cathy said...

I'm just as sick as all of you over letting a child murderer go free, but I don't think we should be blaming the jurors - the prosecutors and the investigators are the ones who should have done more. Also, there were some things during the trial, such as sidebars, etc. that all of us could see, but since the jurors were sequestered, they did not.

Also, having professional jurors would be a TERRIBLE idea... not only does it go against the right to a "jury of your peers" but it would essentially be like congress - a bunch of people who supposedly represent their constituents, but we all know the politics involved. Right now, juries can take down large corporations that are acting illegally, but I just don't think professional jurors would because special interest groups would inevitably get involved.

0 said...

I knew this was going to happen. It makes me sick.

And I'm not at all defending Michael Vick, but it's a fucked up world when he gets sentenced to prison for killing dogs, and then a piece of shit like Casey Anthony parties her ass off after killing her own child and stashing the body in her trunk... and gets away with it. What the FUCK?

Tanyat said...

The prosecution and evidence was really weak in showing a direct tie between Casey's actions and Caylee's death.
She probably did it, but our justice system worked based on how it was designed - unfortuante in this case.

BigMama said...

I think, had they not pushed this as a death penalty case, that she would have been prosecuted. It is too much pressure. Had the jury been able to opt for something less, they would have found her guilty. It is a flaw in our system.

Bxrlvr said...

I agree that she probably did it, but the prosecution was obligated to make that case to the jury and not leave room for doubt. They didn't do it. I have to wonder how the evidence was initially obtained. Unless the murderer got extremely lucky, the cops should have found something left behind that would have shown proof to some degree.

Sue Ellen Mishkey said...

I'm really glad we don't have capital punishment in Canada. Something ain't clean in the milk about the death penalty.

mikey said...

Cathy, have you ever been called to jury duty? I have, many times, and have never been chosen. The last time I was called there were so many trials that they needed many jurors. So many that when I counted all of us in the room, we were all needed except for 5 people. Short version - every time I was called up and asked a bunch of questions, I was relieved of my duties. The 5 of us not needed by weeks end were me, an engineer, MD, finance director, and major pharmaceutical CIO. The people selected were not a jury of my peers, even remotely. The running joke when we 5 rejects walked away was we forgot to wear white stretchy pants 3 sizes to small with black underwear underneath. We were also employed.

Professional jurors are needed.

Anonymous said...

This is sickening to me. However, I agree with the several commenters that the fault lies with the prosecution. They did a horrific job, given that there were so many obvious pieces of evidence that clearly indicate premeditation, and they still couldn't get this closed.

RIP Caylee. This was not your day, today, but some day. Karma will attend to that, and then some.

Daveb said...

I believe all the jurors agreed. So its not a case of a rogue juror. Like most people here I believe she was responsible for the death of the child. However the case was circumstantial. Firstly there was no physical evidence that the child was even murdered. The medical examination was unable to find the cause of death and a natural death was not ruled out. Secondly there was no evidence physically tying the mother to the death. Once you understand those points then you are a long way towards finding reasonable doubt. Most of the evidence entered was really about the mothers lying or, at worse, offering an indignity to a dead body. As discusting as those may be they aren't proof of murder in the first degree.

timebob said...

I agree with Mikey the last time I was up for jury duty I said I was willing to do it becuase my job would pay my salary for time serving on jury duty. The lawyers thanked me for volunteering.

BUT They passed over me a white college educated professional. They went with a barely english speaking indian man who had a job as a cashier who BEGGED not to be chosen as he would lose his job. Most chosen were people who were of low i.q. and had no clue what they were doing.

timebob said...

I want to write a thank you letter to all the jurors on the Scott Peterson trial. They could put the pieces together in a rational manner.

RocketQueen said...

@0 - Regarding Michael Vick, he was not convicted of the abuse, drowning, electrocution, rape, beatings, etc. of those dogs. In the end, his convictions were for "Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities" and "Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture". Those are felonies.
He actually did no time for what he did to those dogs.

Reese said...

Totally agree w/you Mikey. I've been called to jury duty several times too, and have never made the cut. Same reasons and situations as in your experiences. Those with the most minimal educations and poorest job histories are sworn in, and those who are better educated and making more than minimum wage are thanked and excused. My interviews with the attorneys always last about 30 seconds. I'll never be on a California jury; I just wish they'd stop making me waste my time going through the motions of being considered as a potential jury member. Professional jurors would be a major improvement on the current system.

Cathy said...

@mikey - yes, i have received jury summons letters, but no, i haven't actually served. Each morning that I called to see if I was needed, I was not (without asking about my profession or income). But I will say that in my field (where the vast majority of us have masters or above), I have many co-workers that have served on juries. I would never claim that the current system is perfect by any means (it's NOT), but there would be even more problems with having professional jurors. First of all, after watching case after case after case, there's no way that they could remain unbiased. There is some sick shit out there and eventually the sickness of one trial would seep into their opinions on another. Second, professional jurors would be too easy to reach. If anyone thinks that the deals that take place between politicians and lobbyists are bad, imagine the consequences of deals that would take place between lobbyists and professional jurors. A jury is supposed to be made up of one's peers and while both sides certainly utilize jury selection consultants more than they really should, at least they are dealing with a random sampling (at least among those registered to vote). Professional jurors would not come from any type of random sampling at all and would be even less representative.

surfer said...

Thank you daveb - I agree with everything you said. Plain and simple, the prosecutors did not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

And for those upset with the defense celebrating their win (and as Jose Baez said, there really are no winners), regardless of what we may think, you cannot fault them for that. Their "win" saved their client from a life sentence [at the least], and possibly the death penalty [at the most].

It was the prosecution's job to show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Casey murdered her child. It was the defense's job to cast doubt.

timebob said...

If only that stupid police officer had done his job that first month and looked in the woods and not been a scaredy cat of a snake and blew off Ray Kronk. So much evidence could of been recovered.

So glad to hear he got fired.

Casey is free on luck and the prosecution dropping the ball.

NYE said...

professional jurors are not peers. also, while i feel she had a hand in her child's death, i don't believe it was murder and think the prosecution is at fault for filing the wrong charges. there was no evidence she abused or murdered her daughter with malice.

her life is destroyed, she definitely will be facing consequences whether she is in jail or not.

it is scary that so many people believe she should have been found guilty of 1st degree murder, with the possibility of DEATH with no proof.

scary and immoral.

BigMama said...

ok, I just read she was also not found guilty of manslaughter or child abuse. I was consoling myself with the idea that they didn't want to convict her of murder...how the hell do they not convict her of child abuse!? WTH?

Amy said...

I am beyond astonished.

Now she'll REALLY feel that her lies are fooling everyone.

Frankie said...

This is very very sad...

I did not keep up with the case because it just became media circus, however it seems that she has mental illnesses and if thats the case then she should have been sentenced to a mental institution.

Her actions do not scream cold blooded so much as very disassociated from reality, with some shady parents to boot.

Thoughts?

Kristin said...

Timebob, I thought the same thing regarding the Scott Peterson trial. The evidence in his case was largely circumstantial but he's right where he needs to be.

And I do wonder if this verdict would have different had her body been found in August instead of December. I guess we will never know.

erindipity said...

As I said on Enty's facebook page:

I am probably going to get torn to shreds for this, but after having had a few minutes to process the whole trial, I think I am glad Casey got off. Speaking from a purely political/legal standpoint, I admire the jury for not convicting her ...even though their "gut" probably said to do otherwise - because the proof just wasn't there. If Casey didn't actually do it, it would be an awful thing for her (or any other suspected criminal) to be railroaded by people's "gut feelings" rather than actual hard evidence. "Gut feelings" are often manufactured by the media based on what gets ratings. So all I can do is take comfort in the fact that my American peers are apparently more intelligent, thoughtful beings than I usually give them credit for, and have faith that if Casey did in fact take her daughter's life, she will pay somehow, someday.

brendalove@gmail.com said...

And somewhere out there, Susan Smith is stamping her foot and yelling "NO FAIR!"

Jackie said...

I have served on a jury. At the time, I was a professional admin, with a college education and a full time job. Yet I was selected. However, I live in a smaller county of MN and the case was not a felony. It was a simple case that was over in 3 days. However, I don't think that there should be professional jurors, just a better selection process.

surfer said...

Something else to think about - in their zeal to convict Casey, maybe the prosecutors overcharged. Possibly if there had been a single charge of murder - be it 1st degree, 2nd degree or manslaughter, they would have had success. Again, that's assuming they proved their case.

Unless and until the jurors share their thoughts, I guess it's something we'll never know.

And on a personal note, I think it's better to err on the side of caution and set a guilty person free, rather than convict an innocent one.

MediaDarling said...

I'm just sad. Sad for that beautiful baby girl, sad for the doubt/shame this will bring to our justice system and sad that Casey Anthony will be vindicated, for now.

This nutjob will be in and out of jail while she's young enough to enter another "hot body" contest in Orlando.

There will be a lot of disgusting book/movie deals and probably porn and stripping in her future, but at least she HAS a future. Although I'm sure karma will come around because it always does. Hi, OJ.

It will be interesting to hear all the opinions on this case. You know whose opinion I DON'T want to hear though? Kim Kardashian's! The fact that she thinks we want to know how "shocked" she is that a murderer got off free and clear is something I could do without. I thought she learned that lesson when her dad freed OJ? She is a fool not to see the comparisons of public outrage in both cases, but I'm not surprised she found a way to make this all about her...

The world is absurd today.

Frankie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MediaDarling said...

I also think that when a case receives this much media attention, it scares the jurors. professional jurors is a bad idea, but so is beating the case to death in the press. They probably worried that one wrong move would come back to haunt them and second guessed everything. I believe there was reasonable doubt.

Miss X said...

I'm upset by this verdict but not surprised. The prosecution did not have enough evidence to get Casey convicted. Or they didn't present it well. I still think she did it.

I served on a jury once, several years ago, in Denver. I think it was mostly a white collar jury. I do remember the judge dismissing potential jurors for ridiculous reasons. It was very interesting and if there were professional jurors, I'd sign up.

sunnyside1213 said...

Well said erindipity . There was reasonable doubt. Nancy Grace is stroking out, but she made this a media circus. I personally felt that the tide turned when Mr Baez pointed out "laughing man."

Parsley Mostly said...

to mediadarling - eff you. kim was a little kid back then, and had/has nothing to do with what her father did. we are our own people, not our parents' sins/accomplishments/etc.

strawberrygirl said...

I'm absolutely stunned. I thought she would at least get life.

I've been following this case since 2008 and to think that she got away with this is disgusting.

I would say I hope the guilt eats at her for the rest of her life, but she's clearly a sociopath. It's okay because there's a special place in hell for her.

Anonymous said...

I wish people would stop comparing this case to Michael Vick. Totally apples and oranges, people.
Also, I most assuredly do NOT think it is better to let a guilty person go free than to imprison an innocent. In the latter scenario, it sucks for the innocent person and perhaps their family, but that's it. In the former scenario, all of society is at risk.
I served on a jury just once, over 15 years ago, even though I am summoned every other summer almost without fail. It was the most fristrating waste of time ever. This little old black lady from the 'hood lied during voir dire and said she didn't value a cop's word more or less than an average citizen's. Then during deliberations she told all of us that she didn't trust cops. The result? A hung jury, 11-1. What a pain in my ass.

Anonymous said...

/frustrating, sorry. Been a long day.

Anonymous said...

Erindipity and Surfer, well said. This jury worked with what was given to them and followed the law.

Professional juries no.

ardleighstreet said...

I am sad, sick, and disheartened as hell. That poor baby girl got no justice. What REALLY freaks me out is that BITCH can go crank out another child someday. What happens when she tires of child #2? Another trip to the swamp?

joy said...

All can say is her not calling in and reporting her daughter missing for so long should at least be NEGLIGENCE. Finally it was her mother who actually told authorities that Caylee was missing. I mean really, no matter how she died that girl KNEW she wasn't with her and she didn't report her missing.

There is one final judgement for us all. We will each meet our maker and have to hear a judgement from Him. Whatever a group of people who are so-called a jury decide doesn't make any difference in how we spend eternity. That's the judgement I put my faith and life in. God Bless all.

headrot said...

i am unsurprised. as unfortunate as it is, the prosecutors case was circumstantial at best in terms of hard evidence. they left room for too much doubt. even as someone who felt she was guilty, based on the evidence i wouldnt convict.

Rickatoo said...

just wait until Casey tries to steal her Heisman Trophy back at gunpoint... then she'll get hers!

Anna Geletka said...

I hate that people are comparing this to Michael Vick. Race and class pay a big impact on the outcome of the justice system, but come on. Vick TORTURED ANIMALS TO DEATH. He deserved the two years - hell, I think he deserved more than that.

This is a much better comparison - a black mother accused of killing her toddler: http://jasummerell.com/2009/01/24/not-famous/

RocketQueen said...

I'm with you on Kim Kardashian, MediaDarling. Who gives a fuck about her opinion anyway? Who even ASKS? Ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

I've been on a jury a couple of times. In the one criminal case I served on, we acquitted the guy even though we knew in our hearts he was probably guilty...and after we gave the verdict the judge revealed that yes indeed, he had a record of doing exactly that kind of stuff. But the state didn't prove its case and here in the US it's innocent until PROVEN guilty. We had to let him go. I think that's pretty much what happened here too.

I have no doubt Casey knows more than we have heard, if she didn't deliberately kill her, she may have accidentally done so and panicked. But the state did not prove her guilt. She, as the accused party, was not required to prove anything. That's how it works.

Jason Blue Eyes said...

@Rocket - Unfortunately five million brain dead Kim K. followers on twitter. That's who cares.

Sad, isn't it?

Rickatoo said...

Prosecutor Jeff Ashton has decided to retire, a source inside the state attorney's office said.

http://www.wesh.com/r/28454517/detail.html

RocketQueen said...

@Jason - it really does boggle the mind.

Pookie said...

unbelievable.

how soon 'til the first juror steps forward regretting their decision...w/ a big book deal, of course. #thingsiponder

Lelaina Pierce said...

I can't believe it.

@Nightmare Child - I certainly hope you are right!

I'll be very interested to see what Miss Anthony does with with her life after she is released.

lutefisk said...

I predict she will hook up with some unsavory guy who thinks she is now a money machine based on book deals and interviews. Eventually he will beat the shit out of her or kill her. May that little girl rest in peace.

MadLyb said...
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Missy said...

@Babyg: White Privilege

Where's Dexter Morgan?

Dolly72 said...

There are not enough words in the English language to describe how badly our legal process has failed this tiny little girl. 'Reasonable doubt' should not enable people to get off scot free for crimes of which they are accused. At the very least, any woman who acted the way Casey Anthony did while her daughter was 'missing' should be forcefully sterilized so that she can never inflict herself on an innocent child again. Obviously she is incapable of maternal bonding, and as such should be kept away from all children...
I cannot describe how very disgusted and appalled I am, and so incredibly sad that this poor little girl has died without anyone being punished in her memory.

3culprits said...

I am sickened by the verdict, but not surprised. I agree that the prosecution let everyone down. Also, my experience serving on a jury is a far cry from what I'm reading here. First, despite the fact that my mother had worked as a paralegal in the prosecutor's office for 25+ years and had only recently retired, that I had volunteered in that office for several years as a teenager and college student, that my mother's former long-time boyfriend (and my surrogate dad) was best friends with the sitting judge, that the elected prosecuting attorney for our county served on the board for which I was employed as executive director, that I had made political contributions to that prosecuting attorney, I was selected for jury duty. In that county, folks, there is no getting out of duty unless there is a severe hardship.

Secondly, I found that my colleagues on the jury were thoughtful, intelligent, dilligent, and filled with integrity, and it had nothing to do with their academic or employment status. To say otherwise is fucking insulting. We were there to do a job: to decide if the accused was guilty of shooting a 10-year old boy (who fortunately survived). We took it seriously.

Despite what we may have felt inside, the facts that we were presented did not support a conviction. We voted not guilty because the prosecution didn't do their job. We all believed he did it, but in our system he wasn't guilty. When you are in that room as a juror, you know that you have a duty -- a duty to the facts, a duty to the rules. Simple as that.

This I know: that fucker Casey will get hers.

HannahPalindrome said...

"When you are in that room as a juror, you know that you have a duty -- a duty to the facts, a duty to the rules. Simple as that."

I agree with the above statement.

Char said...

My mother has served on a jury... she has a masters degree and has worked in a professional field for her entire life. She was also valedictorian for her high school graduation back in the day. One of my best friends also served on a jury and she has THREE degrees and is deciding at the moment between jobs with Google, Facebook, and a few other very high profile internet companies. She's probably one of the smartest people I know. I've never personally been called for jury duty. BUT, I think to say it's only people with low IQs who don't know what's going on is just wrong.

I think the jury had an issue with the lack of a manner of death. I think her mother also created some doubt with her testimony, even though we in the public know that she was lying. The jury has been sequestered and doesn't hear everything we hear.

Basically, the onus is 100% on the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt. The defence doesn't have to say a word if they choose not to, and a person can still get off simply because the prosecution case isn't strong enough. I think logically speaking, we all know she did it. But you can't convict on a gut feeling. The prosecution has to prove that she was murdered by Casey and there is no other possible explanation. And they didn't do that. And I think that's on them, not the jury. They upheld their responsibility.

Unfortunately, the justice system isn't perfect. Sometimes bad people get off scot free. Sometimes good people go to jail. But it's impossible to think that you could ever correct BOTH of those issues. It's sort of an either or situation. You either make the burden of proof lower and then more innocent people will go to jail, or you make it higher and more guilty people will not. Unfortunately Casey is a beneficiary of the system. Hopefully future prosecuting attorneys learn from this case and are able to put their own cases together better.

Do I think Casey is capable of killing again? Yes I think she's technically capable of it, but I think it's unlikely- particularly given the high degree of scrutiny that will be on her now - that she will ever be in a situation with those same stressors come together to make her react like that. I wouldn't be surprised to see her live the rest of her life without ever harming another human being. Lizzie Borden did. But I would hope that she does not have more children, as they do tend to create the sort of life situations and pressures that I think Casey would react poorly to.

0 said...

Whatever... If Casey hadn't been a middle-class white girl you know she'd be headed to death row right now.

Robyn said...

Jurors are chosen by both the defense and prosecution. Neither receives any benefit in deliberately choosing undereducated, unemployed people. Clearly, the judge gave the jurors guidelines on how they were to view evidence and come to a decision and they listened to him.

Paisley said...

I served on a murder trial a few years ago with a wide range of people from call center operators to engineers. Spent two months in a court room and a week in deliberation. We all felt the defendants were guilty, but had no real evidence. We were pulled out of the room for a lot of discussions between the judges and attorneys over things we never ended up hearing. The star witness pulled out in the middle of the trial for medical reasons and we had to strike everything he said although some people kept trying to use it in the deliberation room. We ended up a mistrial. After that process, I swore I'd never question another jury verdict.

It bothers me that my defendants got off, but I found out later that they were in jail a few years waiting for this trial and stayed in jail while another case was pending. I can live with that.

erin z. said...

um, they didn't have a cause of death, so how could they possibly have a murder?

they had no motive and they had someone who told lies to cover up for something that was very likely an accident.

how could anyone possibly think that someone can/should be convicted and sentenced to death/life just because nancy grace, a crazy zealot, says so?

Kamikaze Butterfly said...

A three year old's body(bones) found in a garbage bags in the woods.. duct tape on the jaw (mouth). How could that be an accident? what mother, if she did find her child drowned in a pool, would put a baby in garbage bags and throw her in the woods?? with duct tape applied ?? try calling 911, momma.

0 said...

re: erin z.

A child goes missing and her disappearance is unreported for over a month, and the child's mother strings the police along with lie after lie after lie... yeah, something in the milk ain't clean.

Zanny the nanny: did not exist.
The nanny's supposed apartment: had been vacant for a year.
Casey's place of work that she took the cops to: She had been fired from there before she even gave birth to Caylee.
Cindy and George Anthony: begged Casey for info on the whereabouts of Casey, and Cindy was the one who initially called the cops

If she was so concerned about her child, why waste police time and efforts in a wild goose chase with all of her bullshit fabrications?

And if there was an accident, would you go out partying your ass off and hamming it up in front of cameras on a nightly basis, again for over a month?

If your child accidentally drowned to death in a pool, would you wrap duct tape around her lifeless face?

Sure the evidence against her may have been circumstantial, but come the fuck on. Not one bit of Casey Anthony's story adds up, and it doesn't take a batshit insane person like Nancy Grace to deduce that yeah, Casey had a hand in her child's death one way or another.

Dead Angel said...

I think it was stupid for the prosecution to try for 1st degree murder, had they charged her appropriately she would be doing time for manslaughter/voluntary or involuntary, but there was not sufficient evidence for the charge and they blew it.

Strange family, all of them liars and we will never know what happened to that child, how or why she died. The jury did the best they could with what they were given.

erin z. said...
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erin z. said...

it's also widely known that people react very differently to death and horrible circumstances.

so the whole "oh my god she partied after her daughter died" suggests nothing more than the fact that she went to a party sometime after her daughter's death.

again, nothing more than suggestions. if you try for the death penalty you better be sure that the evidence substantiates your cause. in this case it does not.

erin z. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
0 said...

All the trial proved was that Casey Anthony is a master of manipulation and is a complete sociopath. I'd congratulate her for beating the system, but no one wins in this case because a baby girl is still dead and the truth will never come to light.

erin z. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
erin z. said...

maybe someone can break it down to me and explain how a body in a garbage bag spells murder?

oh that's right, it doesn't.

it spells "a baby in a garbage bag likely put there after death".

the point of the criminal justice system is to avoid jumping to conclusions and making assumptions. most people are making nothing more than assumptions about how she "must have been murdered" when the evidence doesn't actually suggest that.

maybe she died in the pool (very plausible). maybe there was panic (very likely). maybe the casey's father was involved (very plausible). maybe there was more panic (very likely). maybe they decided to stage a murder so they wouldn't get in trouble (still plausible). maybe she was murdered (plausible). all of this suggests that what really happened isn't known and people should really stop presuming guilt when they have little more than assumptions and accusations.

people freak out and make stupid decisions. people also murder. the bottom line is that no one outside of the anthony family really know what happened, and the trial definitely proved this.

0 said...

Casey Anthony didn't simply "go to a party sometime after her child's death". She was out clubbing and partying on a nightly basis without a care in the world, and there are numerous photographs, eyewitness reports, and loads of other evidence.

My point is, you don't go to the police and claim to be beside yourself with grief over your missing child. If one is that grief-stricken, you're not going to be out doing Jagerbombs and shacking up with a different dude every night of the week. You're certainly not going to ask the police for help and then lie to them.

Unless you're a sociopath with something to hide.

erin z. said...

she went clubbing. she lied. she has something to hide. does that definitively prove that her daughter was murdered? no, it doesn't; it proves that she went clubbing and lied.

yet again, people grieve differently.

and throwing around the term "sociopath" is irresponsible, especially considered it is a hotly debated term in the criminological and sociological world.

0 said...

Maybe to you it's irresponsible. My father is a behavioral analyst and before I moved to America, I studied to be in the same profession. Logic and training both dictate that Anthony has all of the behavioral patterns of a garden variety sociopath, and her actions and statements regarding her daughter's disappearance and death are red flags indicative of... wait for it... a sociopath.

You're not going to change my opinion any more than I'm going to change yours here, and again no one is going to come out a winner in any of this.

erin z. said...

i also study deviance and criminal behaviour. i have a phd in sociology and a master's in criminology, so i have some insight as well. tis a hotly debated issue.

that said, agree to disagree!

0 said...

Ah, nice to meet another profiler, even if we don't see eye to eye! I gave up the profession because it was causing me much depression, but I am still fascinated by it.

erin z. said...

it can be very demanding and distracting. i study violent sex offenders as well as human trafficking, so the topic can be a bit much at times.

nice to meet you too! i appreciate your levelheadedness...even though i disagree. =)

0 said...

Wow, how crazy... I studied human trafficking and sex crimes as well as criminal organizations, but that was in my native Russia where it is sadly far more epidemic and out of control than in America. It really gets to a person, and I just could not bear it any longer. I don't understand how my father has continued to work in the field for over 30 years.

It's too odd that we both study the same thing! Granted, I fly planes for a living now, but still. Pretty small world, eh? :)

Anonymous said...

Ha, not just Canadians say "eh!" Thanks 0.

Although people do grieve differently, getting the "Bella Vita" tattooed on her is seriously messed up.

erin z. said...

i read vadim volkov's book on russian criminal organisations. very good read! i study british and american responses to traffcking, so i come across a lot of russian cases, specifically in western europe (and regionally).

i am also terrified of flying, but probably because i am not in control. :)

0 said...

Vadim Volkov is a brilliant man! 'Violent Entrepreneurs' was one of the first books assigned to us to read.

I love flying. I hate driving more than anything in the world; anytime we are taking a "road trip" I let my husband drive, haha.

@anita_mark: Anytime :) I find myself saying "eh" more and more, lol

mygeorgie said...

O & Erin:
Send in Benson! I am hoping it turns into a L&O episode where they get nabbed right outside the courtroom on another charge.

Sadley, the same outcome today after a Canadian cardiologist was found not criminally responsible for stabbing some 26 & 18 times, his two very young children. parents were seperated.

He may not serve another day if he is analyzed by medical officals & determined to be okay now.

Shameful day for children in North America.

BlahFrickinBlah said...

You can have all the degrees in the world but you will have a hard time making me think that finding a dead baby in a garbage bag in a swamp is not a result of murder. Accident my ass. Yeah, cause the first thing I think of when I find my dead baby in the pool is ,"Where is a garbage bag cause I got a dead baby to hide! Gimme that duct tape while you're at it." That drowning in the pool story is bullshit. It will be interesting how this chick's story will end cause she's not going to know a moments peace. In jail or not, her life is over. This actually might end up being a harsher punishment than being in prison. Would you want to be her right now? I'd feel safer in prison if I were her.

Anonymous said...

@Blah, exactly. Some are saying she's going to get book deals and be on reality tv shows, etc but she'll be a pariah, just like OJ was. Hell, Bristol Palin was called a "teen activist" on Dancing with the "Stars," how in the world would they introduce this woman? They won't because no one will touch her.

Even the mothers who were dumb enough to neglect their kids while playing Farmville had the sense to call the police.

I'm sure there'll be a police presence outside her house (and/or the parents' house) for awhile because - well, you know why.

abitwicked said...

No one makes an accident looks like murder! So Casey walks because she was able to avoid anyone finding the body of her child until all forensic evidence had deteriorated. She walked because a cop didn't do his job. She walked because even though the ME said it was a homicide, the jury didn't know exactly how she died. Guess that duct tape was just for fun. And the defense partying...go ahead, but have the common decency to do it away from the courthouse and the eyes of those who are disgusted by their horrific accusations and the actions of their clients. While they smugly claimed the day was about justice for Caylee, they are whooping up while they watch themselves on tv. The whole thing is a crying shame.

erin z. said...

still haven't proved murder.

__-__=__ said...

Truly a jury of her peers!

jcolette said...

@O......who said she was rich?? Did you see her house? It was a dump....the fault is with the prosecution...her level in society had nothing to do with it...I don't know how she is even going to pay her lawyers....she is sick and I bet somebody is going to get her....she is way too controversial and most hated right now.

Julieh said...

As someone who knows, juries are not "picked." There is a group of random people called into court. The prosecutor gets a limited number of 'strikes' (5 for example) and the defense gets the same number of 'strikes.' The prosecutor strikes people who would be unfavorable to them, like the uneducated, those with a criminal past, or an obvious bias. The defense strikes people who are educated, they want people who are clueless and easy to confuse. After the strikes by both sides, you are left with whatever people are left. So you get stuck with what's left, it is not 'picked.' You pray they have common sense.

Megley said...

Well, as Dr. Drew said, it won't be long after she gets out that she'll fuck up again.

She only time she really cried is when the verdict was announced. What a piece of shit.

I do have some advice for her, tho--she oughta watch her back cuz street justice is brutal.

Megley said...

I think the prosecution brought the wrong charges. It wasn't premeditated, but she did bring about the death of her daughter. The charges tied the hands of the jury.

Where is she going to live? She has no friends, no family to speak of, unless new daddy Jose takes her in. "Honey, this is the life I saved. Just don't turn your back on her, and if she asks you to smell something, run like hell."

MISCH said...

Hard to believe, so what now ? A Book, Lectures on how to murder your child, the interview circuit, a made for TV movie...I want to vomit.

0 said...

jcollette... I never said she was rich, not sure where you are seeing that. Perhaps you have confused me with another poster?

RocketQueen said...

An offer for porn. It's already on the table. Sigh.

Cindy said...

I wasn't there so I don't know whether she was guilty or not or whether she just had a good lawyer or or the prosecution was bad. Truth is, if the jury had a reasonable doubt about the way the child died, then they did the right thing.

No, it's not a popular verdict, but our country doesn't have a guilty by circumstantial evidence verdict and that's a good thing. For those of you that want her to fry -- show me actual EVIDENCE that she killed her daughter -- not "she looks guilty" or " she partied while her daughter was missing" or nonsense like that. She wasn't on trial for not conforming to your thoughts on motherhood. I'm sure she would have been guilty as charged if that was the case.

And those of you talking about vigilante justice should be ashamed of yourselves. You don't get to decide the law just because you don't like the verdict. It's people like you that screwed Los Angeles up after the Rodney King verdict.

If you don't like the woman, don't read about her, don't comment on websites about her -- just let her fade away. If you continue to comment about her, you are contributing to her popularity.

0 said...

And it isn't up to you to tell people how they should feel about her or base their opinions, nor how they are or aren't free to express them as much as you are to express your views. People don't have to "like" her to be fascinated by her and comment about her, whether good or bad. Don't be a hypocrite.

Like said above, agree to disagree and get over it.

Cindy said...

0 -- In this country, like it or not, we don't 'fry' people because we 'think' or 'feel' they are guilty. Gut instincts are worth exactly nothing in court. You can feel how you want about this woman, but your feelings don't get to decide her fate. It has nothing to do with me telling people how to feel, it has to do with the law -- and that isn't based on opinion.

Apparently 'like' a poor choice of words. Perhaps I should have said " if you don't want her to profit from her trial (can't say guilt, as she was found not guilty) then ignore her in the media so that you aren't contributing to her popularity.

Better?

0 said...

Never once did I say that I was a proponent of "frying" people because I "think" or "feel" they are guilty. You can save your self-righteous condescension for someone else.

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