Possibly a May 2, 2011 Trial Date for Casey and Leonard Plays Misty

Before we jump to any conclusions, bear in mind that no trial date has been set by Orange County Circuit Court Judge Stan Strickland, so May 2, 2011 has not been chiseled into granite. Not yet, anyway, but remember at the last hearing, the judge did ask that the two sides get together to work out a timeline. According to WESH-TV, that is exactly what happened yesterday, when prosecutors filed two new motions later in the day.

One of the motions reportedly deals with the issue of a timeline for the case and the other one asks for a private meeting between the State Attorney’s Office and the judge. The private meeting would be to discuss new (undisclosed, I might add) material uncovered by law enforcement from being handed over to the defense until a later date. The State needs more time to study this new material and information. Before we decide what this new “evidence” is all about, keep in mind it is nothing more than mere speculation and if the defense doesn’t have a clue, neither do we.

In the second motion, prosecutors are suggesting that the trial date be set at May 2, 2011. This would allow the State time to finish questioning witnesses under oath by the end of August, while the defense could have until January. Also, the defense would have until October 1 to turn over their witness list. This would explain why the defense did not turn anything over to the State by February 1. They were working diligently behind closed doors (with the State) on a new date.

If the timeline is not satisfied, lawyers from both sides would have to show why the case is not moving forward. No word yet from Judge Strickland.

State’s Motion for Incamera Ex Parte Hearing

Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure

Notice of Filing

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As I reported on January 31, famed bounty hunter Leonard Padilla has offered to post bond for Misty Croslin. He told WESH-TV that he called her attorney to speak about bond payment and is waiting for a call back. According to WESH, Croslin’s attorney would hire Padilla on a contingency fee so that anything she tells him would remain privileged under attorney/client contract. He told WESH that he wanted to modify the conditions he used when he paid Casey Anthony’s bond. I guess he learned his lesson. Anyway, Croslin is being held at the St. Johns County Jail and Ronald Cummings, father of missing Haleigh, is in the Putnam County Jail.