Day 1: Drowning Theory, History Of Lies, George Testifies – WESH Orlando
Casey Anthony Trial Begins In Orlando
POSTED: 3:25 pm EDT May 24, 2011UPDATED: 5:45 pm EDT May 24, 2011
ORLANDO, Fla. — For the first time Tuesday, jurors in the Casey Anthony murder trial got to hear exactly what stories the state and defense plan to tell to proclaim Anthony’s guilt or innocence during what could be an eight-week trial.Opening statements lasted more than six hours Tuesday.Prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick told the story of Caylee Anthony’s disappearance day-by-day.Drane Burdick painted a picture for jurors of a young woman who knows nothing other than to lie.”In a pattern that was repeated throughout this case, when Casey’s lies can no longer stand, when she has painted herself into a corner … what does Casey Anthony do? Casey Anthony comes up with a new, a bigger and a better lie,” she told jurors.Drane Burdick told jurors of alleged lies to authorities, Google searches of chloroform, and the gruesome details of Caylee’s remains. She showed jurors a photo of Caylee’s skull, what Drane Burdick called the last photo taken of the tot.
Drane Burdick’s presentation was methodical — playing to the repeated theme of, “Where’s Caylee Anthony?”Casey broke into tears as the state began. Drane Burdick’s statements relied mostly on evidence that case followers already knew about — chloroform, authorities’ reports or lies and the now infamous 911 call by Cindy Anthony that referred to the smell of death.Anthony’s defense on the other hand relied on a new theory that had never been presented until Tuesday — that Caylee died in a tragic swimming pool drowning that was an accident.
During his two-hour presentation, defense attorney Jose Baez made the case that Anthony shouldn’t have been charged with murder or even manslaughter. He offered shoddy police work and a dysfunctional family as reasons for Anthony’s charges and the lack of a report to authorities.”Casey should’ve been strong. Casey should’ve called 911,” Baez told the 20 jurors. “Casey should’ve done the right thing, and that’s what she’s guilty of. She’s not guilty of murder. This is a sad, sad, tragic accident.”
First Witness
After opening statements, the state called George Anthony as it’s first witness.
George: I Didn’t Molest Caylee
Prosecutor Jeff Ashton quizzed him on the history of his family — where he met his wife, his work and his family situation prior to Caylee’s disappearance.Anthony told the prosecutor that he absolutely did not touch Casey inappropriately as Baez had earlier suggested. He also said he was not present when Caylee died, another defense accusation that Baez said left him with so much guilt, it led to a suicide attempt months later.Anthony also admitted that he met with Ashton Monday to discuss the case. Judge Belvin Perry told jurors that was not a reason to consider him untrustworthy.”The witness may not be discredited,” Perry said.Casey Anthony’s mother, Cindy Anthony, was also present Tuesday. Earlier in the day she was told that she had to to conceal a teddy bear she’d brought with her to court so that the jurors could not see it.
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