"During testimony Friday, the defense appeared to move past its attack on the prosecution's evidence and into Anthony family dynamics. Baez claims abuse within the home caused his client to lie and deny in the days following daughter Caylee's death in 2008.
Still uncertain was whether 25-year-old Casey Anthony will take the stand and risk questioning by the prosecutors trying to convict her of first-degree murder."
REPORTERS ANTHONY COLAROSSI AND WALTER PACHECO; ORLANDO SENTINEL.
A backgrounder on this high profile Florida case cane be found on Wikipedia at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Caylee_Anthony
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"An end is in sight for the murder trial that continues to draw big crowds and big ratings with its daily dose of Anthony family drama and emotion" the Orlando Sentinel story by reporters Anthony Colarossi and Walter Pacheco published earlier today under the heading, "Casey Anthony trial: Baez expects to wrap up by Thursday," begins.
"Casey Anthony defense attorney Jose Baez said Friday he expects to rest his case Wednesday or Thursday. That means jurors — and the legion of others following the case — will see at least another four days of defense witness testimony, starting this morning," the story continues.
"When the defense is done, the prosecution intends to call rebuttal witnesses for at least a day, Assistant State Attorney Linda Drane Burdick indicated Friday.
That timeline means jurors could hear closing arguments and receive jury instructions by the end of next week. But timing is uncertain in this trial, since proceedings often are delayed by attorneys arguing at sidebars away from or outside the presence of the jury.
During testimony Friday, the defense appeared to move past its attack on the prosecution's evidence and into Anthony family dynamics. Baez claims abuse within the home caused his client to lie and deny in the days following daughter Caylee's death in 2008.
Still uncertain was whether 25-year-old Casey Anthony will take the stand and risk questioning by the prosecutors trying to convict her of first-degree murder.
Judge Belvin Perry said he will issue an order next week about "basic parameters" for closing arguments.
Trial watchers Friday saw more dramatic testimony by Lee Anthony, Casey's brother, along with more legal objections and bickering by the attorneys.
After jurors were excused Friday, Baez accused prosecutors or investigators of improperly withholding information from the defense team.
According to Baez, sheriff's Detective Yuri Melich testified he obtained phone records of witness Roy Kronk for June to December 2008. But Baez said he only had two weeks of phone records.
"We don't have the rest,'' Baez said.
Burdick said she will ask Melich about what Baez said is missing. She said she was unaware of any intentional discovery violations.
Meanwhile, Assistant State Attorney Jeff Ashton revealed that forensic anthropologist William Rodriguez, a defense witness, was not authorized to testify in the case by his employers at the U.S. Department of Defense.
A Defense spokesman said last week that Rodriguez had not divulged he was testifying in this case.
Eventually jurors will be instructed — to some extent — on why Rodriguez disappeared as a witness.
Repeated sidebars and review of case law kept stalling testimony Friday and absorbing time in which the jury could have heard from more witnesses.
Yet jurors did see an emotional Lee Anthony break down on the stand while explaining he felt excluded from his family's confidences when his sister became pregnant.
"I was very angry at my mom. I was also angry at my sister — that they didn't want to include me and didn't find it important enough to tell me," the brother said.
He said he didn't visit his sister in the hospital after she gave birth to Caylee.
"I was very hurt," he said."
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The story can be found at:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/caylee-anthony/os-casey-anthony-trial-day-27-20110624,0,2147561.story
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;
