Judge nods in approval
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 4:11PM A teleconference hearing was held today in Judge Perry’s chambers over a motion the defense filed to conduct DNA tests on two items, a pair of Caylee Anthony’s shorts and a bag. Both items were found at the scene where Roy Kronk discovered her remains in December of 2008.
The judge granted the defense team’s monetary request for $2,084 over objections from the Judicial Administration Commission. The JAC argued that an in-state laboratory could check DNA on the items in question, while the defense wanted an out-of-state lab.
During a recent hearing I attended, the judge made it clear the lab needed to be certified by the American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLAD). The defense originally wanted the evidence sent to a lab in Holland, but Judge Perry, in all his wisdom, made it quite clear that nothing would leave the country, where the court has no jurisdiction. Brad Bischoff, the JAC attorney, could not confirm that any of the labs listed as vendors in Florida were confirmed by ASCLAD. Jose Baez, on the other hand, argued that none of the state labs were certified. He cited a lab in Pennsylvania and the judge agreed that’s where the items will go.
It is a small battle won for Jose Baez & Co., but I would surmise that ultimately, it’s only a win if the lab finds something that will incriminate someone else, or it could somehow benefit Casey if nothing is found that points directly to her. Otherwise, I don’t see it helping her one bit, and in the overall scheme of things, if it does, it’s just one tiny piece from the vast army of incriminating evidence the state has accumulated to wage this war against her. In the end, the good guys will win. Choose sides wisely.
In another matter, Bob Kealing’s report on dead bugs must have the defense worming around right now. Watch his exclusive video HERE. He deserves an award for this one.
Dave Knechel | in Bob Kealing, Casey Anthony, Caylee Anthony, Chief Judge Belvin Perry, DNA, Dave Knechel, David B. Knechel, David Knechel, Forensics, Human Interest, JAC, Judicial Administrative Commission, Marinade Dave, Marinade Dave Knechel, Marinade Dave’s Caylee Anthony Posts, WESH, marinadedave | Share Article 
LEGAL NOTICE
©David B. Knechel. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this site can be reproduced in it's entirety or in part without expressed written permission by the owner/administrator of this site in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Section 512(c)(3) of the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §512(c)(3). The charges against defendants are mere accusations and the subjects are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
Reader Comments (51)
Bob Kealing is going to be an incredible witness for the prosecution and I don't think anyone on the defense team is going to be able to blow him out of the water..This man knows what he's talking about. No wonder they are looking worried. All the money in the world is not going to change what this man can PROVE.
Does Baez ever walk into the courtroom without needing more money?
Thanks for the ever excellent reporting Dave..I''m sure you have not yet figured out which way I'm leaning..lol. But like most women, my mind can be changed.
Thanks for this post Dave....I thought Baez said the Double Dutch couple were setting up a lab in America.An he wanted them to test it.Is this lab them?
B T W Dave Ive an old Scots spell for you to cast on wordslinger CUSTARD MUSTARD SNOT AN BOGIE PIE....ALL MIXED UP IN A DEAD DOGS EYE....STIR IT STIR IT TILL ITS NICE AN THICK....AN WASH IT DOWN WITH A CUP OF COLD SICK...
I had no doubts that JP would give the defense the okay to have these items tested. It will be interesting to see what the outcome of having these items tested is. Willl it be in favor of the defense or against them?
ecossie possie, good question about if this is the lab the Double Dutch couple were setting up in America.
Bob Kealing did a very good job on the video with Dr. Haskell. I think it will be hard for the defense to disprove him.
Dave, another great post and thanks for keeping us up to date on all of this.
Dave~~today's hearing concerned the laundry bag and shorts. The hair strands were already sent away for testing and Baez said that he thought they were returned. Here is a video of today' hearing..
Video of Hearing Re Shorts and Laundry Bag
Snoopy, thank you very much for posting the video to the phone hearing from today. It makes it so much easier when it is right here to find instead of having to go look at other sites for it. I appreciate it.
Mary Jo~ ~ You are very welcome! One of the news outlets put out the wrong information, in error. With so much going on in this case, it is easy to do. When two hairs were mentioned as having the death band, I knew that was incorrect because only one hair was found with the death band. I am not sure what two hairs were sent away for testing, possibly a couple hairs that were found in the trunk.
Anyhoo, the defense got the funding to test the shorts and laundry bag. I believe they are going to try and match up skin cells. I really think that the bug and plant growth evidence will outweigh the DNA tests on skin cells and hair. The scales are still tipping in favor of the state.
Hi, GLENDA - Bob Kealing is a great journalist, but I don't think he will be called to the stand, nor would he want to be. All he's did was report what this forensic expert is going to testify about at the trial. I give him lots of credit for pulling this interview off. The other stations must realize that this was a coup. I knew it was going to be something worthwhile because I have a lot of faith in him. He never lets us down.
You are quite welcome, ecossie possie. Baez mentioned the Pennsylvania lab at the hearing where it was brought up. I remember that part of it. The only reason why the defense got what it was after was because the JAC attorney came unprepared. He mentioned Web sites, none posting the ASCLAD logo on the sites. The jusge had no choice but to give the defense what it wanted, short of denying it, but at that hearing, he offered the defense a way to get it approved, not denied. In my opinion, I don't think an in-state lab would be any cheaper. It's just a desire to keep the money in the state, and I can understand that.
Thanks for the spell. We should all chant it tonight and hope a big ol' wart pops up on the tip of her nose.
Haskell said in his report for the Anthony investigation that the presence of so-called coffin flies and a lack of other insects indicated that a body in the later stages of decomposition had been in Anthony's trunk.
"Sometimes the absence of insects can be just as important as the presence," he told WESH 2 News.
Anthony defense attorney Cheney Mason said the defense disagrees with the finding. Mason said defense experts claim there were no coffin flies in the trunk at all.
Haskell has studied entomology for more than 50 years and teaches students at Saint Joseph's College in Indiana. He teaches a formula that uses temperature and environment to predict a window of time when someone died.
"It's totally reliable," he said.
Haskell said he trained the defense team's entomologist, Dr. Tim Huntington, which could set up a potential trial showdown between teacher and student.
Anthony's defense team will depose Haskell via Skype on Friday.
Thank you, everyone. I went to WFTV to watch the video, too, to find out for sure. Ironically, they still have the wrong info up.
By the way, I was just informed by one of the local journalists that it was bad info that got around and WFTV was not alone. It happens sometimes. There. I'm not going to point fingers at anyone any more than I am going to tell you who I just connected with.
By the way, I called the WFTV newsroom and reported their error. They don't need that to be hanging over them.
That's interesting... teacher and student.
Dave, the wrong info that I had posted on my blog, Nov 15th, came from WESH. Dave, that teacher and student would be like you and me going back and forth. I am not saying which one of us is the teacher. LOL
Hmm... Let me guess.
On second thought.
When I read the teacher student part I thought it would be good to post that so others can see it. I can't wait to see out of the two who is believed more by the jurors.
Shouldnt Haskells report read early stages of decomposition rather than later stages?
I'm not sure I know what you mean, ecossie. When the body was discovered, decomposition was in its later stages. The remains were skeletal.
Ecossie Possie, that confused me too. I think it should have read, a body in the early stages of decomp had been in the trunk.
Mary Jo, where did you copy the following from or did you write it free hand?
"Haskell said in his report for the Anthony investigation that the presense of so-called coffin flies and a lack of other insects indicated that a body in the later stages of decomposition had been in the Anthony's trunk."
Snoops uderstood me Dave it said the report Hakell sent to the prosecution stated that a body in the later stages of decomposition had been in Caseys car trunk....I know when Caylees remains were found they were in the very late stages of decomposition.However I dont think anyone beleives Casey had Caylees body in the trunk for more than seven days max an maybe as few as two an a half days.So shouldnt it have read early stages as oposed to later stages.
According to the official report, Caylee was in the trunk for 2.6 days, give or take a little. The reports state Caylee was placed in the woods in the latter part of June or the early part of July. The main consensus is somewhere around June 20. That means Casey drove around with the body in the trunk. I don't understand what he means by later stages of decomp in the trunk. I'll have to check it out, but I've got a conference call with a client at 9pm. 6, California time.
Ecossie~~Caylee was murdered June 15 or 16th , by all accounts. The Pontiac was abandoned at Amscot on June 27th. That is eleven days. There is no way that the remains could have stayed in that car for that long. I estimate she got rid of Caylee around June 18 or 19th and the body would be in the early stages of decomp. Eleven days would probably even been considered early. The body fluids in the trunk would probably be in the late stages by July 17/18th or whatever date they analyzed the fluids and coffin flies.
I am trying to find the source of that info that Mary Jo posted.
Snoops this is were I read Haskell saying later stages of decomp in the trunk, I will post it but cant seem to link on this site sorry http://www.wesh.com/r/25843813/detail.html
In my family, to the defendants, we would say....
"Dance monkey... DANCE!"
cuz what else can they do?
(it ain't gonna help..but it might entertain some...)
Ecossie's Link to Haskell
Thanks Ecossie, that is an error in reporting and not necessarily what Haskell stated. The remains did not stay in that car long enough to be classed as the later stage of decomposition.
Snoopy, I just saw your comment to me, but it looks like you found the link. Sorry I didn't add the link with my comment.
Snoops aperently coffin flies are atracted to bodies in advanced decomp.An because Caylee was baged in plastic an placed in an oven basicly this happened fast an fluids leaked out.So even after her body was removed the decomp fluid still atracted thease coffin flies.They are tenacious an can reach any where.even locked car trunks..Thats why the article read the way it does I think.Also the absence of blow fliy pupie in the trunk means the body was bagged an placed there imeadiatly after death.As blow flies are not small enough to penetrate the trunk..Also the defence is correct that there were no blow flies in the trunk.As they all flew of all Haskell found were blow fliy puie maggots..An an adults leg.
Above I meant the defence were correct there were no coffin flys in the trunk as they flew away.But there babys didnt.
Mary Jo, no problem, Ecossie found it. If you read it, you will have to agree that it should have stated early stages of decomp. Haskell mentioned the remains would have been put out at Suburban no later than the end of June or beginning of July. They cannot pinpoint it to a couple days so leave a margain of about 2 weeks.
Ecossie, that stain that George described in the trunk was the size of a basketball and irregular in shape. I expect that was body fluids that leaked out of the bag. The coffin flies would have found their way to that. They can burrow down 6 feet and find coffins.
I am fascinated by the coffin flies and blow flies. That part of the trial will be one of the more interesting parts for me. I can't wait to see which expert wins.
Mary Jo, we will never know who the jury believed the most until they are interviewed after the trial is completely over. I am almost sure that there will be people in the courtroom watching the reaction of the jurors and trying to do a read on their reactions to certain evidence. These people report back to the state or defense. Dave will probably know more about that. He is the one who receives that big shiny apple each school day. Ahem..
I will settle for bumble bees rather than the ones whose offspring are maggots..
this is a very interresting issue and I guess that the expert battle in court will be hard! will these items analyse at Dr. Lee's new forensic institute facility?
Bob Kealing seems to be a well-known expert, I hope he could help the case.
have a nice WE all
Carl Sagan, "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence."
Hello, Rita! I would imagine there will be battles between the experts, but I don't know what Dr. Lee will bring. All we know right now is that there will be the bug experts battling against each other - teacher and student.
You know, it's always a pleasure to see you! Thank you.
I like that, Kathy. There's a lot of truth to it. Carl was a brilliant man and he was taken from us way too soon.
The scientific name is actually Phorid fly.....coffin fly and scuttle fly are common names....Mason could just be playing word games as this defense team seems to live in a parallel world. (jmo). Time will tell.
That's a very good point, Phyllis. It's all in the semantics, so in a B&W world, Haskell says it's 50% white and Mason says NO WAY! It's 50% black.
For whatever it's worth.... I seem to remember reading that the flies were recovered from the remains site and kept at the morgue. I'm not sure since it's been so long, but the only thing recovered from the trunk were the larvae which were collected and sent to Mr. Haskell.......again Mason could be right in his statement...the flies weren't there, but the larvae were...same difference.
I will have to read Haskell's report because I, too, am under the assumption that flies were found in the trunk. Either way, if a chicken lays an egg, it's still a chicken. With that type of fly, they burrow into the ground and enter the coffin by whatever means possible. Before they die, they lay eggs that hatch and feed off the body. They're still coffin flies.
I don't know if those types of flies were found on the Suburban site because she was reduced to scattered bones. There was no flesh to feed left. If they were dead flies that, obviously, died right there, then that would be a different story. I don't know for sure, but it's worthy of another look.
I wonder if Cindy A. has started writing her book?
I doubt it. Her mind is too scattered right now and it will be for a long time to come.
If Cindy writes a book it will go straight in the fiction section. An when no one buys it straight back to the printers to become pulp fiction.
To be honest, ecossie, I cannot, for the life of me, see any book written by Cindy. Now, she could possibly have a ghost writer, but still, it would be sporadic at best.
When Caylee Marie Anthony's body was found, folks -
It WAS already DECOMPOSED. It was skeletonized.
The process begins immediately after death.
From there, depending on conditions, the speed and
progression are determined.
Hot summer, Florida Sun, back of a Pontiac Sunbird trunk?
Wrapped in two plastic garbage bags, and a cotton laundy sac.
Lets' think about this a sec -
Even after two days, the body
would have decomposed tremendously...
Like beginning to liquify (Apologies to faint belly folks)
JMO - Of course!
CptKD
I think that Cindy's book will be very engrossing-If she told the truth about her coverups and involvement.Some believe she is involved in the murder.
I can see Cindy writing a book when this is all over. I agree with Ecossie in that alot will be fiction. I expect she will sugar coat everything. No doubt she will title it, My Caylee is Still Alive.
I expect Cindy is drafting some of the book already. Once the trial is over, we will see a movie about this case. I just hope Cheney Mason is not the lead actor who stars in it. Baez could play Mason's butler, I suppose.
CptKD~~every time I see your name, I think of Captain Kidd... sry...LOL
I got a little faint belly when I was eating my puffed rice cereal and watching the video of Neil Haskell, yesterday morning.
I know that decomp starts immediately after death. There would have been alot more decomp fluid in that trunk, if Cindy and/or George had not cleaned it. George said he noticed the large stain. George was being up front at the beginning but then started to recant and change his stories. It is too bad that George could not have been put in isolation and away from Cindy in those first couple of weeks.
Snoopy....Really? "CAPTAIN KIDD"?
First off - I wish I was still young enough to be called "Kidd"!
Secondly, I HAVE NEVER felt the urge to become a "Pirate of sorts".
I will admit here, that I HAVE dressed up as one for Halloween, and damned, if I didn't look AMAZING all done up in my garb.
It was a cool, however unusual feeling, to be a "VILLIAN",
And well, Halloweens are usually the only time when that side of me can come out to play....
My neice and nephews loved it!
On the other hand, I scared the "be-gi-gi's" out of my mother - LOL!
As for being called, or thought of as "Captain Kidd.... Though he does not carry that great of a reputation, ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kidd ) He is well known for some things, and well, that is one of the better names I've been called in my lifetime....LOL!
Trust me -
There's been alot worse!
Way worse!
Especially after the addition of "Cpt" to my already existing initials.
The nasty ones aside, there are some CUTE ones I sometimes get -
CAPTAIN "KRAFT DINNER"!!!
Now, that's one that's followed me from the get-go...
Even before the "Captain" arrived, but even more so after....
Nothing like being remembered as a bowl of nasty yellow/orange noodles,
boiled for six minutes, and then cheesed up with some packet of dry sand,
milk and butter -
MMMMmmmmm - YUCK!
Haven't touched the stuff since I WAS a KID! LOL!
Either way...
The way I see it -
As long as you remember me somehow,
Then I am pleased and honoured to be recognized, by someone such as yourself!
Thank you, Snoopy! (Wink-wink)
All 'KIDDING' aside...
Just know, and remember, that I AM one of the "good guys"!
And I AM honoured to be part of a fine group of people, searching and seeking out the same thing -
JUSTICE FOR CAYLEE MARIE ANTHONY!
CptKD
* wink back at ya Captain. I liked that 'one of the good guys'... way to go!