Revisited: Casey Anthony must die!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 9:04PM As things are gearing up for the trial, I want to reflect on some of the issues that transpired during the past two-and-a-half years. On April 20, 2009, I published Casey Anthony must die! on my old WordPress blog. Four days short of one year later, Casey’s defense team filed a motion demanding that the Honorable Judge Stan Strickland step down from presiding over the murder case. This article was cited by the defense as the primary reason why Judge Strickland would not be able to judge fairly. Poppycock! The judge never read that post or any of the others the motion cited. Also, had Jose Baez and, particularly, Cheney Mason fully read what I wrote, they would have discovered that the title had nothing to do with delivering Casey’s head on a platter of any kind.
Here is the defense motion, and here is Judge Strickland’s order granting the motion. Incidentally, the date I was called up in front of the judge was October 16, 2009, a FULL SIX MONTHS before the recusal motion was filed.
On the WESH Website, Richard Hornsby said on the day the motion was filed, “There is little doubt that one day the defense will look back on the motion (as) the worst move they’ve made,” He added that, “Judge Strickland has previously shown a fairness to Casey in the way he sentenced her in the check case, and now they don’t know who their judge will be.”
Anyone who reads my articles should know by now I am not a proponent of the death penalty. Incidentally, this was written before Casey was declared indigent. Also, the electric chair was taken out of commission and injection is today’s method of execution.
Casey Anthony must die!
From the Florida Department of Corrections Web site, here are some fun facts:
The case of Furman vs. Georgia was decided by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in June 1972. In that landmark case, the Court held that capital punishment was unconstitutional and struck down state death penalty laws nationwide. As a result, the death sentences of 95 men and 1 woman on Florida’s Death Row were commuted to life in prison. However, after the Furman decision, the Florida Legislature revised the death penalty statutes in case the Court reinstated capital punishment in the future. In 1976 the Supreme Court overturned its ruling in Furman and upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty in the case of Gregg vs. Georgia. Executions resumed in Florida in 1979 when John Spenkelink became the first Death Row inmate to be executed under the new statutes.
In January 2000, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that allows lethal injection as an alternative method of execution in Florida. Florida administers executions by lethal injection or electric chair at the execution chamber located at Florida State Prison. The three-legged electric chair was constructed from oak by Department of Corrections personnel in 1998 and was installed at Florida State Prison (FSP) in Starke in 1999. The previous chair was made by inmates from oak in 1923 after the Florida Legislature designated electrocution as the official mode of execution. (Prior to that, executions were carried out by counties, usually by hanging.) The apparatus that administers the electric current to the condemned inmate was not changed. It is regularly tested to ensure proper functioning.
- Old Sparky - made of oak constructed by inmates
OR
- Gurney used for lethal injections
Since the middle of July of last year, the name Casey Marie Anthony has permeated the airwaves, earwaves and print media of this country and many parts of the civilized world on a daily basis. Every day, something must be reported on the case against Casey, and no one has titillated more than Nancy Grace. All of her loyal followers must be tickled pink since the State Attorney’s Office of Florida announced last week that the prosecution will seek the death penalty against her for the murder of her daughter, Caylee Marie. State Attorney Lawson Lamar’s office said they want to kill Casey because, as the official explanation says, “sufficient aggravating circumstances” have come to light. Please take note that Lamar did not ask for the same thing against George, Cindy and Lee and some of you won’t sleep until the entire family is dead by the wheels of justice. How ironic that nearly 2,000 years ago and for hundreds of years, the idol worshippers of Rome demanded the heads of Christians as they begged for their lives. Now, it is the Christians making the same kinds of demands. There should be no trial. Casey Anthony must die! I am not going to delve into the pros and cons of this sort of punishment and I don’t really want to hear opinions one way or the other. This article is meant to just give you a taste of things to come.
Sentencing Casey to death might be what minions of people from around the globe are hoping for, but Lamar knows it’s no easy task. Here is a case I remember well: On November 25th 1998, police were called to the Central Florida home of Kayla McKean and told that she was missing. They began a search and as the story hit the news, hundreds more people gathered to help. Countless people spent Thanksgiving Day searching and continued through the weekend to no avail. On Monday, November 30, searchers were ready to begin again when Kayla’s father, Richard Adams, came forward and confessed that he had killed her the previous Tuesday in a fit of rage because she had soiled her underpants. In his confession, he told police where her little battered body was buried. Kayla’s stepmother, Marcie Adams, took police to the Ocala National Forest where Richard buried her. He was immediately arrested on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, tampering with evidence and medical neglect. Like Casey, he faced the death penalty, but on May 15, 2000, Adams was sentenced to life without parole, plus 28 years. Because of her death, Florida enacted the Kayla McKean Child Protection Act.
Casey’s team will go to trial with a credible cast of legal experts, something Adams did not have. Although you may scoff at Jose Baez’s credentials, he’s got some strong talent behind him, including New York defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden [not now], famed criminologist Dr. Henry Lee [today, it was announced that Lee would not testify at trial], forensic scientist Dr. Larry Kobilinsky and Todd Macaluso [nope!], who excels at cross-examining technical experts. This will make the death penalty a tough win for Lamar, and he’s got to be concerned.
Some people feel this is nothing more than an old prosecutor’s trick. Well known law professor Alan Dershowitz, of Harvard Law School, claimed that Texas prosecutors used the same ploy to get a conviction against Andrea Yates, who drowned her 5 children in 2001.
“The prosecutors… never really expected, nor even wanted, the jury to return a death sentence,” Dershowitz wrote. “They manipulated the death sentence processing order to get a pro-prosecution jury, more likely to reject the insanity defense and return a verdict of guilt. This tactic, well known to those who practice criminal law, is becoming more widespread in states which authorize the death penalty.”
In Yates’ case, her conviction was overturned on appeal and she was ruled not guilty by reason of insanity. Because of the nature of choosing juries in death penalty cases, a potent problem exists for the defense. The selection process may give potential jurors an impression of guilt by merely asking for death instead of a lesser penalty. Ultimately, the State Attorney’s Office may be looking for a plea deal now that Casey faces being strapped down on a gurney to one day be fed intravenous shots of killer medications. No doubt, this will be a very long and costly trial since it doesn’t look like Casey is readying herself for some sort of confession. With this in mind, let’s examine how the death penalty works in Florida.
First off, death penalty trials are not cheap. The stakes are much higher because we are talking about taking a life. Because of that, more motions are filed, more interviews are conducted and lots more research is performed. The possibility of execution will prolong and complicate this trial and make it 10 times more expensive for the prosecution and defense than a maximum life in prison sentence.
Capital punishment cases need a very select type of person to sit in the jury box because they must be willing to sentence someone to die. Also, cases like these are two-parted: the guilt/innocence phase and the penalty phase, and that could almost double the length of the trial. Time costs money.
Unlike non-death penalty cases where potential jurors are questioned in groups, these jurors are interviewed individually. Sometimes, a process like this can take weeks. Once a jury is seated, the trial begins with the guilt/innocence phase, and like any other criminal trial, the state presents its case and the defense does its best to poke holes in the evidence presented against their client. After that, the jury decides guilt or innocence and if found guilty, the trial moves into the second stage, the penalty phase.
You’ll notice that in the State Attorney Office’s explanation of why it asked for the death sentence, “sufficient aggravating circumstances” was cited. These aggravating factors, all outlined by law, must outweigh the mitigating circumstances as put forth by the defense. Aggravating factors would include whether the killing was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner. Mitigating circumstances would encompass areas such as whether the defendant acted under duress and why this life should be spared. It becomes a second trial within the trial and it is where the costs really start to add up.
Most of the time, it’s the defense that has to work harder and spend more time working out the reasons to spare their client’s life. To prepare for this phase, they must do extensive research into that person’s background. They must dig up every school record, medical record, where they were born and what doctor delivered them. If mental health issues never factored into the main trial, they will here. Mitigator specialists may be called in. I’ll bet you never even knew this type of career exists. All of this is very time consuming and expenses can soar into the 100s of thousands of dollars for this phase alone, just to pay for experts.
As of today, with the trial set for mid-October and more likely to be a year or two away [BOY, WERE WE WRONG ABOUT THAT!], it’s impossible to say how much it will cost the state, but the bill will rise tremendously now that it has asked for the death penalty. Prosecutors’ spokesman Randy Means said that death penalty cases are not budgeted separately from other cases, but because they take longer, they cost more. Anywhere from 3 to 10 times more effort is put into this type of case. If the defense puts many experts on the stand during the penalty phase, the state must counter those arguments.
Many of those aggravators have already been shown during the guilt/innocence phase and the mitigating circumstances will need to be fought again, with new testimony. We, the taxpayers, must fund the state. The money set aside to prosecute cases has already been budgeted and because of this, it takes away from other trials. That means someone else might not be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Keep this in mind as the state readies itself because prosecutors had better be sure they know what they are doing. Before you throw any “Lawson Lamar lament” my way, this is not meant to argue the pros and cons of the death penalty, nor is it to trash Casey for not fessing up. This is just to let you how the process works.
If she is found guilty and sentenced to death, she will go to the Lowell Correctional Institution Annex in Lowell, FL, outside of Ocala in Marion County. Her cell will be 6 x 9 x 9.5 feet high. She will be served meals three times a day, at 5:00 am, from 10:30 am to 11: am and from 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm. All food is prepared by prison staff and transported in insulated carts to the cells. Prior to execution, she will be able to ask for a last meal and the cost to prepare it must cost no more than $40.00 and all ingredients must be purchased locally. As for the final cost of arrest, trial, incarceration, appeals and execution, the price will run into the millions, a lot more than just a life sentence, and in the end, Lawson Lamar knows that a death sentence in Florida may end up being more about dying of old age in a stark jail cell than anything else.
To those of you so hellbent on Casey’s execution, I ask you where you were when Kayla McKean’s father sat on trial, charged with her brutal murder. I ask you where you were when he was sentenced to life instead of death. I guess you didn’t care. Perhaps that’s not it at all. Ten years ago, this precious child, every bit as beautiful and angelic as Caylee Marie, didn’t have Nancy Grace fighting for her. No Geraldo, no cable shows, no Internet and no public. Who cried for Kayla? Think about it.
Dave Knechel | in Capital Punishment, Casey Anthony, Caylee Anthony, Cheney Mason, Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Dave Knechel, David B. Knechel, David Knechel, Death Penalty, Judge Stan Strickland, Marinade Dave, Marinade Dave Knechel, Marinade Dave’s Caylee Anthony Posts, Richard Hornsby, WESH, marinadedave | Share Article 
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Reader Comments (83)
My comment is NOT meant to be sarcastic or rude in any way...please try to take that into consideration if it angers you...it is NOT meant to.
"To those of you so hellbent on Casey’s execution, I ask you where you were when Kayla McKean’s father sat on trial, charged with her brutal murder. I ask you where you were when he was sentenced to life instead of death. I guess you didn’t care."
I don't recall the name 'Kayla McKeon'. I don't know her story. (other than what I just read above for the first time) Am I /are we to be blamed if her story wasn't a huge news story like Caylee's is? Am I/ are we to be blamed by the fact that Nancy Grace's show didn't exist 10 years ago for her to dedicate her shows to Kayla's story? We need to hear the stories about these kids via the news and if the news isn't covering it enough or at all, we'll never know about them. (And maybe it's ME and ONLY ME who has never heard of Kayla...and if that's the case, that obviously means that I was not paying attention. Shame on me. (NOT meant to be sarcastic) I do try to follow stories/keep up with them...this very well could have slipped right past me, I don't know. ) I try to base my DP opinions from case to case...I approve of the DP...but not necessarily in EVERY situation. (I used to always be against the DP...and then my uncle was murdered...and I changed my opinion regarding the DP) I have no clue if, in my opinion, the DP was acceptable in Kayla's story. So I can't compare it to Caylee's story, which I'm very informed about, as are you all.
I am 150% FOR the DP for Casey Anthony. Plunge the needle in her arm and end her miserable life. But I'm ALSO OK with LWOP...how ironic...she murdered Caylee to live her 'beautiful life'...those 31 days better have been worth it because she's certainly NOT going to have a 'bella vita' if she spends the next 60 or so DECADES behind bars. (I DO prefer the DP in this case though)
Again...I am NOT arguing. I am NOT trying to sound rude with my comments. Just throwing in my two cents...and I greatly appreciate that I'm able to do that here with so many others who are waiting for Caylee to get justice~
Thanks~
Stef
Thanks Dave, for this Blast from the Past-. Some people who've had misconceptions regarding its contents since the time it was first published now have a first-rate opportunity to assess what points you were really trying to make. I would like to think Jose was opportunistically grand-standing that fateful day in Court (I'm trying to give him a little credit here, for having at least read it!), but after some of these more recent kerfuffles and general silliness, you know what, he may have had NO IDEA what your original post was really all about! That is just possible....
Dave~~thanks for bringing this post back, especially this one. Other than the title, there is nothing in the body of your article where YOU gave your opinion that Casey must die nor did you try and convince your readers that Casey must die. This is what burned my butt when the defense cited this post in their motion to have Judge Strickland recluse himself. Why didn't they take the time to have someone read the entire article? It is all history now but I think there are some sorry attorneys on the defense for having filed that motion.
It was a well planned out set-up and orchestrated over a few months. ( Please feel free, Dave, as a blog owner to delete anything I may say if I get too carried away.) It is not a nice feeling to be accused of something you didn't do.
From the very beginning when Judge Strickland made the remark about Casey and the truth being strangers and then setting her bond at half a million dollars, Strickland already had a couple strikes against him. The real problems started when Cheney (Know it all, let's have some fun) Mason came on the scene.
Judge Strickland had just denied a couple of motions. Cheney Mason struts his stuff in the courtroom and when making his debut on this case said to Strickland, " you trust me don't you?" You could see that the judge was caught off guard and looked rather embarassed when he replied, "of course, I trust you." From there on in, Mason thought he was going to get a free ride but it didn't work out that way, not with a fair judge like Strickland.
to be con'td
Hi, stef - I have no problem with people who are for the DP. I just happen to be against it. As for Kayla's death and lack of public interest, that was in 1998 through 2000, right? When was OJ's trial? 1995? That was several years before Kayla's murder and trial, yet it got lots of publicity, partially because of his fame. My point is that people tend to be selective in choosing stories that interest them. In Caylee's case, a lot had to do with what transpired. Her mother never reported her missing, plus it was the mother, not the stepfather who was charged. It's heartbreaking and one of the main reasons why most of the people who are interested in the Anthony case are women and mothers. A young, pretty mother. Caylee was an absolutely adorable child, too, and with the advent of new and faster ways to receive news, it became a powerful story. My point was not really about why Kayla's story never made the headlines like Caylee, it's that Caylee is not alone here. This happens more often than we'd like to think, and we need to be reminded that others are out there. I often wonder had Caylee never happened, would we have heard so much about Haleigh? Did the fact that both stories came out of Florida and only months apart have something to do with why we heard about and showed so much interest in Haleigh? How many people wondered if something was in the water down here? I heard it plenty of times.
This is definitely a blast from the past, Karen, and a lot of people may not have had an opportunity to read what I had written back then. This had nothing to do with Casey dying. It was quite the contrary, and all I wanted to do was let people know how the system works in Florida. Nope, the defense had no idea what this post was about. Had they known, they never would have used it in a motion.
Dave, I recall you making a post about 7 yr old, Tori Stafford from Woodstock, Ontario, Canada and we followed that case until her body was found. Two people were charged with her abduction and murder. Here in Canada, we do not have the death penalty and everything is so hush hush, it is not easy to try and follow cases in this country.
I do not agree with the death penalty in Casey Anthony's case but that is my own personal opinion. I do agree with the DP for child molesters who rape and kill.
Nope, Snoopy, there's nothing in the post that promotes the death penalty. Cheney Mason was bucking for a more liberal judge; one who would be more inclined to take the death penalty off the table. Be careful what you wish for comes to mind. I certainly do admire Judge Perry, but the motion to recuse did nothing to help the defense's cause. Richard Hornsby was right. Judge Strickland was VERY fair with the fraud case. By the way, one of the other articles of mine the defense cited was titled "Guilty as CHARGED". That was a play on words, meaning that she "charged" stuff on Amy Huizenga's checkbook and there was no way to circumvent that. She was guilty as charged; a double entendre.
Old Davey Boy is going to bed. It's after midnight, but I do remember writing about Tori. Another sad, sad case.
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the refresher. I do sometimes wonder why some cases get the attention they do while others are just barely mentioned on the news. Shows like Nancy Grace and JVM seem to keep certain cases alive. I suppose whatever case they think will bring in the most ratings. Perhaps if Cindy and George had not involved themselves so completely in trying to help or cover up for their daughter at their granddaughters expense, the case would not have been so entertaining to so many. I think it would have been better for them to have stayed in the back ground like most parents of killers do. Their actions did not help find Caylee or help their daughter at all. About the water down there, I still wonder because the crimes don't seem to be letting up. Too many children are being abused, missing or murdered down there. The scary thing is maybe the statistics are just as bad in many other states but Florida crimes hit the news more often. I don't know any of this to be fact, it just seems that way to me. It breaks my heart to hear of these crimes against the children everywhere. Anyone that harms a child deserves to be ---- fill in the blank. JMO
I am back with more fire and brimstone. LOL btw, I spelled recuse wrong...sry
Let's look at the situation with Judge Strickland calling a blogger up to his bench. We will add a bit of logic to give it some flare.
If Judge Strickland was courting, heaven forbid, this blogger, wouldn't he want to do that in secret? With the cameras rolling and people still milling around in the courtroom, he got the deputy to fetch the love of his life and bring him up to the bench. Maybe he didn't tell the blogger that he read his blog and felt he was fair in covering the case. That all could have been a big fat lie. The judge wanted to invite the blogger for a candlelight dinner. Now isn't what I just wrote silly? That is how silly this whole thing is. The judge didn't summon the man who always dresses in black and pokes fun at the Anthonys when he comments on a well known blog. The judge felt very comfortable calling someone up to his bench who was unbiased. Strickland did not foresee this being an issue since it was right out in the open.
The defense grabbed at the opportunity, under the guidance of the big shot attorney who had just joined the team, to get rid of the judge. The big shot attorney felt that one of his favorite judges would take Strickland's place. Was he ever mistaken and just look at what it has got them. Denied, denied, denied...and the DP remains on the table.
I'm glad you reposted this. It wasn't just the defense who threw you under the bus for this article, obviously without reading it. I know the defense had an "agenda" and this was a means to their end.....to get rid of Judge Strickland for whatever (dumb azz) reason. I believe they knew once they filed the motion for recusal, Strickland was gone whether the information used was accurate or not.
What totally offended me was those in the media who spouted off about your headline mentioned in the motion, because they have producers and staff that you and I know read this article. They went for sensationalism instead of responsibly reporting what the article actually said.....IMO, Jane Velez Mitchell was the major offender in this bogus reporting. Sensasionalism is regular business for Nancy Grace but IIRC she didn't go very indepth in reporting the motion when reporting the recusal, go figure.
I think you are right about the 31 days, the partying, and blatant lies from Casey catapulted this case to a national level. Again jmo, but I think Cindy Anthony bears a great deal of responsibility for the media circus this case became. On Feb. 10, 2009, when Caylee's public memorial was under way word started breaking about another little missing girl, Haleigh Cummings, gone missing from her bed just 70 miles away from Orlando. It does seem the timing of the incidents propelled Haleigh's case into the National spotlight. I for one was hungry for a family who responded appropriately to their missing child (yeah, I know in hind sight it's dumb). To take your point a little further about the cases that do and don't get media attention....
The same day that Caylee was eulogized, and Haleigh was reported missing, a little 3 year old boy named Dominick Arceneaux went missing in Arkansas. No media picked up on his case at all. He did live near a lake so it was reasonable for authorities to rule out drowning but they also treated it as a possible lost boy in the nearby woods or a kidnapped child case and called in the FBI, state police, TES came, it was a full scale search. After 5 days of constant Haleigh and Caylee coverage, Dominick was never mentioned once. After 5 days of barraging all of the major networks with info about Dominick's case by the public HLN finally reported his case. Unfortunately Dominick's body surfaced in the lake that same day, but if he had been kidnapped 10 days were lost before word was out in the media. I'm sorry to carry on (yes, I realize I'm carrying on...sensitive topic) ;)
To close up my rant....I do believe in the DP in principal but I don't think Casey Anthony will be sentenced to death.
Oh yeah, I'm covering a murder case from CA, that is (likely) going to trial next month, of Stacey Barker, a young mother who reported her 18 mth old daughter kidnapped but later led police to her daughter's body. The similarities to the Anthony case are remarkable except the Barkers are keeping their mouth shut so the national media let it drop. I do get a lot of traffic when reporting the Barker case because friends are attending the hearings and i report that; however, it's crazy I can regurgitate current news and my views about the Anthony case and get 4 times the traffic even with all of the hundreds of blogs out there reporting mainly the Anthony case....people are obsessed! OK I admit....so am I ;)
I would like to present another scenario. I read an article recently stating that Knechel should have kept his mouth shut. Let's examine this and use some more logic.
The judge calls a blogger up to his bench. This incident was observed by several people and probably even by that envious man all dressed in black. The blogger remains silent. He begins to be hounded by the media and every Tom, Dick and Mary, "hey, how come the judge called you up to the bench? What did he say to you? Are you a relative of his? Did he scold you because the light radiating off your bald head was distracting him?" And so on and so forth, the blogger is questioned.
The blogger remains silent except to say that he cannot discuss it.
Now can you honestly tell me if the above looks more suspicious than the post Knechel wrote about his encounter with the judge?
It is damned, if you don't, and you caused a judge to step down, if you do.
PS... Longo is an ass.
I find myself drawn here daily to see what new postings you have! I wish I had known about this site sooner!! Regarding the Kayla's story....(Just my opinion) but I believe the fault doesnt lie with civilians for not being as glued to her case as everyone was OJ's. I believe it is the medias fault for not educating the world on her story. I had never heard of Kayla story before now but had I, I do believe I would have followed it as adamently as I do the case of little Caylee....As sad and as depressing as it is, the media picks and chooses the cases they want to air and make public. I think any and all cases involving children need to be aired. As depressing as it may be to most, perhaps if someone made a tv station that ran 24/7 featuring ALL missing children reports, that would help get a lot of these kids found and brought home. The media simply makes it impossible for civilians to help in the finding of a child when they choose to only broadcast the cases that they feel will get them more air time.
My girlfriend was murdered by Paul Runge 16 years ago (google him,he is an evil serial killer) now had my friend not been murdered by him, I doubt I would have ever heard his name nor the names of his other victims because although it was in the media in his hometown, it wasnt in the media in surrounding cities and states.
Ok, enough of my ramblings...Dave-you do an amazing job here and I hope you continue your work for many many years to come. Your hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated!!!!!
You had mentioned a plea deal for Casey. Do you believe the state will in fact offer her one after all the hard work,blood,sweat and tears they have put into trying to get justice for little Caylee? If so, do you think Casey will take the deal? Wouldnt she have to tell the truth (or her version of the truth) to accept such a deal?
Thanks again for another great post!!! I anticiapte your next one!
Dave: I'm always so pleased when I see a new post up by you. You make my day.
It's so hard to understand, really, why the media chooses to cover one story and not another. I dare say the same thing is going on right now. The only reason I can think of is that there is just so many that they don't have enough air time to cover them all. It's my opinion that they pick the ones with the most salacious facts.
I agree with Katfish about the JVM show--she is always sprouting that she gives equal time to all sides of a story, but she sure didn't give equal time to you. In fact, she acted peeved when anyone tried to speak on behalf of your defense. Thumbs down to her.
The pictures of the wooden chair and gurney were very chilling, Dave. For my own selfish reasons, I admit I would like to see a trial; however, I think it is in Casey's best interests to plea to LWOP. I believe that the State's evidence is so strong that the jury could very well give her the death penalty.
Ahhh the scandalous posting of a blogger that got a judge recused! If anyone truly believes that then they are woefully uninformed. Personally I think Cheney Mason came onboard and through past history that had nothing to do with Casey Anthony decided Strickland wouldn't do for this case so he went looking for trouble and found this little guy the judge called up to the bench. Who is that guy? I imagine someone came up and asked your name and a little later we get the recusal papers. I have a feeling after that they googled your name and came across your blog, saw the title of the article and the 2 pictures and said "voila! We can do something with Strickland now". I don't think it had much to do with you personally, Dave. You were just the excuse to get rid of Strickland for whatever reasons they had. I doubt the article had very little to do with it. But the article and all it's brouhaha brought me and a few others here to see exactly what all the todo was about.
The main reason the Anthony story caught the attention of the press and everyone else might have been due to a "slow news week" when it happened. Someone once said "If you're going to do something don't do it when it's a slow news week because then it will get all blown out of proportion." What kept it in the news was the Anthonys and their antics, not to mention a Casey they bailed out of jail for pete's sake! 10 years ago I was living in Charleston, SC and their news outlets don't focus on murders so I heard very little about any of them unless it was something way out of whack, like the one with the little girl who was buried alive by Cuoey (sp). I think there needs to be a "have you seen me" segment at the end of most news casts just like they have the sports and weather. Whether it's a small child or an adult, they need to be found or their cases resolved.
You've come a long long way Dave and from what I've read on here you've had your own personal battles with your health and your families to even think about this again. It's just too bad others can't keep their opinions as just that.
As far as the death penalty goes, I don't like it but I think it's necessary for serial killers, extreme killers who dismember bodies and do gruesome things. I think people like Casey Anthony should get life to think about that one afternoon when they made the wrong decision.. one that affected the rest of their lives. I want them to be reminded of their victim for a very long time.
It is apparent that the defense only read the title to this post and not the article. I am sure that they are kicking themselves right now for having Judge Strickland excused because they ended up with JP who is a tougher judge in lots of ways and things don't seem to be going the defenses way. JP is also not afraid to sentence anyone to the death penalty. I don't think JS was afraid to sentence the DP to anyone, but I think he was a more softer judge. Anyone that still thinks that you had anything to do with having JS excused really needs to do a reality check because you had nothing to do with it. JS called you up to the bench to talk to him after the hearing was done, which was his right to do. It was also his right to tell you that you are a fair and balanced writer regarding the Anthony case. There are so many people who read your writings and are behind you 100% because you are fair and balanced with this case. We all appreciate your attending the hearings for us and writing about them. It is nice to get your point of view from being in the court room. Thank you for all you do for us and for all your hard work.
This is a bit OT, though it pertains to CA, and the defense team..
I recall that way back when Ms Lyon was part of the team, she enumerated to the Court her expenses to that time, and wound up "without a penny' as I recall. Part of her expenses listed was new computer equipment, to bring her office up to date, and to be compatible with the other attorneys. What happened there?? When she left the team, did she reimburse them for anything, especially hardware she retained for her own use?
Also..it seems to me that if and when an attorney leaves a case, for whatever reason, the State should be reimbursed for whatever they were paid, including expenses..because they will soon be replaced, and the expenses repeated. I include travel here, because there was no value gained..all is lost when they bail..otherwise it is a great way to have someone else pay for your vacations, hotel stays, and the free publicity. Not that any of it is good at this point. Good reason to wave good-bye to Mr Baez..
Dave, this was a great re-read! Casey's case has stayed in the media because of the antics of Casey and her cast of relatives and attorneys. It's like a daily soap opera. You tune in and there is always something going on that makes no sense and seems ridiculous to most folks with common sense. And because it's so bizarre we keep coming back to see what they will do next. Unfortunately it's the bizarre cases that garner all the attention and attract people like NG and JVM. Their shows are equivalent to the tabloids so the more sensation they market the better the ratings.
Snoopy - - If the man in black - - well - - maybe no longer a man - - knew the truth about what transpired - - his you know what would suck a sour lemon - - although it's obvious he'd prefer an unripe banana - - a plantain - - so to speak - - unpeeled.
Hi, Frankie. I like keeping things fresh, and I can't understand why some cases make headlines while others do not. There was a young mother in town who was recently convicted of murdering her young daughter and sentenced to death. It hardly got any air play. I thought about writing aout it, but I couldn't have afforded to go to the courthouse to purchase all of the discovery the rest of the media mostly ignored. Did it matter that the mother and child were of a different color? Maybe so. As for Cindy, yes, that fueled the story, but the news went nationwide as soon as Casey was arrested. Imagine, a young and pretty mother not reporting her bright-eyed and adorable daughter missing. That's what iced it. The media presented it and the public hungered for it, plain and simple. I'm going to be writing another piece shortly that will be a message for the defense. As for NG and JVM, at least NG didn't skewer me like JVM. More on her in another comment.
Florida is a melting pot. Even the Anthony family came from out-of-state; Ohio, to be precise. Right now, I can think of one particular commenter who lives in Ohio and she's a sad case for the state. Her comments are venomous. She's nuts, but at least she never killed anyone. Not that we know of, anyway. All kidding aside, murderers are everywhere, and like Texas and California, it's a big state with lots of people. The odds go up, but per capita, is it any higher than, let's say, Rhode Island? If 1 in 100 is a criminal, wouldn't a more densely populated area run the risk of producing more criminals?
I must say, though, that the Cummings story is straight out of Deliverance. Heck, the whole dang family sits in prison now.
You know, katfish, I was never a fan of Jane Velez Mitchell and her acerbic tongue. I never watched her and after I heard about the shellacking she gave me, I decided she was a worthless slug. She never once asked me a question. She never wanted to hear the other side of the coin. That's a horrible way to report. One of the reasons why the judge singled me out was because of my fairness. God, if Mitchell only knew what I know about this event, but since she never asked, she'll never know. By the way, if you go to the WESH link I put up on this post, they were very fair in reporting. Even WFTV was. As a matter of fact, all of the local stations were and TruTV managed to treat me with dignity. Could that be because, behind the scenes, they were told more about what transpired than I chose to write on my blog? You betcha. After the "event" unfolded, I was asked about a lunch. I refused to answer it and I have never written anything about it, other than the lunch we all enjoyed at Waffle House. Ot was it Taco Bell? Gee, I don't remember. No, it was Krystal, I think. Oh, forget it. The side with the lemon sucking leader was the one that started the lunch rumor. JVM can rot for all I care. She's a gas passing National Enquirer on steroids.
About the death penalty, I seriously believe if Casey is convicted, the present judge will have no qualms about sentencing her to death. No qualms at all. This defense would have been wise to keep who they had, and that's all I'll say publicly about it. To the idiots who believe I conspired with the defense to take down a judge, what lobotomized toads they are. Look where the defense is today. What made them think they'd end up with a more lenient judge?
I'll have to read up on Stacey Barker. If you want to share info about it or put up links to your blog, please feel free to do so.
Thanks for the recap Dave....Has anyone got a link to the hodge podge of material J Baez has handed over to the state in discovery.After almost three years this is what they produce in her defence....
Hi, Celeste - Thank you. I'm glad you are drawn to read here daily, although my dose of new material has softened a bit. I need to pick up the beat.
I'm sure that Kayla's story was a combination of a lot of things, and certainly, the media has an awful lot of impact on what sells. Media can make or break a politician, for instance, but it's got to be a recipe that works from all angles, like this case. Even Haleigh had all the trappings because of the antics of her family, most of whom now sit in prison. Will that story ever end? Who knows? One thing that keeps the Caylee case interesting and moving is the suspense. In Kayla's case, her stepfather came forward and it wasn't drawn out like this one. That had something to do with it, but still, there is a blend of ingredients that propels stories in the news. Just looking at Caylee and what her mother may have done is extremely powerful.
I'm going to take a look into that Paul Runge creep. I'm sorry you lost your girlfriend to him. May he rot forever.
I appreciate your candid remarks about my blog. That's very kind of you. Thank you for that.
As for a plea deal? No, that's just not going to happen at this point. In early 2009, when I wrote the post, there could have been a possibility, but today, it's not going to happen. The state's not going to ever offer one, not at this point, and if Casey throws herself at the mercy of the court, there's nothing that says the judge won't sentence her to death anyway, which he could certainly do. Nope, at this point, the judge wouldn't allow it. Too much time and money has been sunk into this case to think of a notion like that. We are going to trial.
I will do my best to write more often!
Hi, nan11 - ... and I am always pleased when I see you here, too. That makes my day, as well! Thank you.
If you look seriously into this case, it's got all the key ingredients for what makes news sell. The heroes, the villains, and everything in between, including the nutjobs. Wow! Do I smell a Lifetime made-for-tv movie or what? Who would play Casey? This story just continues to sprout arms and legs, and another key element has got to be discovery. Without it, I don't think it would be so big.
JVM... what's the J stand for? Joke? She is more interested in shocking the audience than the truth. She's nothing more than a living, breathing, scheming, screaming tabloid.
By the way, if Casey's convicted and sentenced to death, her story will be very old by then, and the public will look at her as nothing more than a footnote. If she's found not guilty, it will last a long time, like Lizzie B. See? I don't have to mention her last name. We all know who she was, over 100 years later.
ecossie possie: This might be what you are looking for.
Inventory of Discovery on Flash Drive Received 1/14/2011
Yikes, Dave. I just read your reply to Celeste. I didn't realize the Judge, himself, could sentence her to death. Oh, dear, I smell a further tragedy. Well, I can't say she doesn't deserve it.
BTW, I did know the answer to your example. Your point is, as always, well made.
Well, Connie, there are a handful of people who worship a convicted felon, so there's no escaping the dregs of society. I have other opinions about Cheney Mason and what transpired with Judge Strickland, and some I won't publicly discuss, but let's just say that ego had something to do with it. The "Don't you trust me?" statement was flagrant, at best, and after a handful of motions were denied by Judge Strickland, Mason decided to throw his weight around the courthouse. That was a mistake because he let his ego take over instead of common sense. It's very interesting to note that all of the motions Strickland denied were also denied by Perry after they were refiled. That was the gamble the defense took and lost. In historical footnotes, this will be remembered as a huge blunder, and I will be writing more about that as the trial nears.
It could have been a slow news week, but I believe that what made it big was the shock over a young, pretty mother who ignored her missing cutie pie for a whole month. That captured a huge audience, and in particular, mothers who would never - could never - fathom something like this. People, again, mostly mothers, took this personally and they still do. What mother would do what Casey's accused of doing? Besides, and I hate to say it, it was a white, middle-class family. Shocking! It hit home to a lot of people. She's not a crack ho or someone society discarded years before.
Yes, I've come a long way since it began, and I never knew that any of this would have turned out this way. I still tell it like I see it, and one thing is real and true. If you can have people attacking you from both sides, you must be saying something right, and that usually means it comes from the middle of the road. The zealots are the ones who attack. Unfortunately, some of them are as loony as it gets.
nan11~~the judge makes the final decision. If the jury deliberates and brings back a sentence of LWOP in the penalty phase, the judge can still impose the death sentence but he seldom goes against the decision of the jury. If Casey were to take a plea, Judge Perry could very well sentence her to death, unless the DP was taken off the table as part of the plea bargaining. As Dave has mentioned many times, the state has no intentions of removing the DP.
One advantage of keeping the DP on the table is the individual jurors must believe in the death penalty. This will almost guarantee that the sentence will be, if she is found guilty, LWOP or the DP.
Thanks Nan11.....
Hi, Mary Jo... and do you want to read something about it? There is not one person in the media who blames me a bit. Sure, fringe people like JVM, but I'm talking about legitimate journalists the crud factor is always mentioning that I'm not a part of. Name one. As a matter of fact, they told me exactly what you just wrote; that it was a defense ploy. I took comfort in those words from the same people the cruds like to rub in my face. If they only knew. They are constantly fueled by the mange infected man in black who writes hideous lies that have nothing to do with this case. He needs to take lessons from his daughter about news reporting if he expects to have any credibility. Hey, he does! It's called crudibility!!!
Thank you. I enjoy writing about the hearings I attend.
OT is OK, dadgum. It's WONDERFUL to see you!
I don't know what the financial arrangement with Lyon was prior to Casey being declared indigent, and the court doesn't care about it, either. What happened after that designation is what counts, and there's no way to determine, at this point, whether Lyon billed the state or not. Whatever, the JAC is very rigid in making those determinations and I doubt the state actually paid for any upgrades. If it did, then it must have been legitimate. Also, Lyon left the lion's share with Baez when she bolted, which wasn't all that long after the indigency hearing. The state was not going to pay for travel, hotel stays, car rentals or meals. About reimbursement, the state looks at it this way - no one works for free, so whatever was billable remains the same. Like any other job, if a person quits midstream, they don't have to pay back the employer for services rendered. I know it's a good thought, but it wouldn't work. Besides, I don't think Finnell had to start from scratch. She has access to the work that Lyon performed. That doesn't mean she'll take advantage of it if her plan is different, but it's there just the same and the other attorneys may cull from it.
I sometimes wonder if Baez has buyer's remorse, but the judge will not let him bail. He's in it for the duration, and that leads me to something he said in the courtroom about making $3 per hour. He's working pro bono. That, I'm sure, was a bit of a rub-in said in sarcastic jest. This case has got to be a major drain for him and his law firm. By adding all of his workload together, with this case being free, I'm sure he meant that it brought his take-home pay to 3 bucks because of all the overhead.
Thank you, Patti! I am sometimes surprised that interest in this case has remained as strong as it has, and I fully expect it to explode come May 9. It is going to be huge, just like OJ and Scott Peterson. I will be focusing more and more on what we should anticipate as the trial nears, and some ideas about what the defense should think about. A lot of things have not gone their way throughout the hearings. What will happen at trial? Who knows, but I'm going to write about it. Believe me, down the stretch, the judge is going to hunker down more and more, and the defense's resistance will break down more and more. The state seems to have it together, but the judge will be equally tough. This trial will begin on time!
Hi, ecossie possie, and thank you for the nod. I see that nan11 left you a link to the material turned over by the defense. Most of it seemed trivial, but we'll see.
I am going to be attending an 8 month program, thanks to the State9NC)..a class in policymaking, and working with those holding office. They pay for travel, meals, hotel..even respite care for Sam. Naturally I figured a way to include my husband, and make a weekend. Sort of. I need him to drive, in any case..and "alone time" is something we just don't have any more.
It just got me thinking, that much of what is being billed (or was in the beginning, when Baez still had $180k in the bank from CA) is likely inflated, or at least 'dual purpose'.
I haven't been gone..just diverted a bit. Then I fell on the ice, making the other things worse <sigh>
Winter...
15 weeks
Unless Baez tries to stretch the discovery out a couple of years. Since he brought it up the other day. If he's smart, his wife is the new investigator.
Thanks for your postings Dave. Always good to read..and easier listening than JVM!!!
Thank you for the link, nan11.
Yes, the judge has the final word. In Florida, the jury merely makes a recommendation and it only needs to be the majority, so if the jurors vote 7-5 for execution, that's the recommendation the judge receives. Even if the jury votes for LWOP, the judge has the authority to overrule it. In the majority of instances, the judge stays with the jury, but it's not written in stone.
Sorry, Snoopy, I didn't see your comment about the final say so. Yup, you're right.
Hi All ! Hope everyone is staying warm, and if it's warm where you live, ENJOY IT!
Dave, I don't need to put links to my blog because you already have me on your blogroll if anyone wants to learn about the Barker case. {{{HUGS}}}
There are so many similarities between the Barker and Anthony cases it's amazing. While SB has told a gazillion different stories, CA still holds the award for best liar. Perhaps they present the beginnings of a profile to the person who could kill their child. I have often wondered if SB wasn't a bit of a copycat.
Casey Marie = Stacey Marie
Both are young single mothers still living under parents roof
Both were the only girls in family
Both had tons of support from family in raising their child
Both were girls who "just wanna have fun".
Both charged with killing toddler daughter, both most likely by suffocation.(duct tape...baggy/hand)
Both claimed their child was abducted.
Both party after child died.....re-girls just wanna have fun.
Differences-
Stacy really did have a job.....one reason Casey wins best liar
Stacey caved and led LE to her daughter's body....a possible reason she isn't facing the death penalty and again Casey holds best liar title.
Nancy Grace and JVM did pick up on Barker's story but you're right, Stacey leading LE to Emma's body took the wind out of their sails/sensationalism. That and the fact her family and defense have stayed out of the media. If NG and JVM only knew how bizarre SB's case has become......I only know because of my friends who attend all her hearings. She confided to a fellow inmate named "Vampire" (now addressed as Witness X in court) who contacted LE with the offer to record their "conversations" and oh yes they were jailhouse penpals too. Barker's defense has filed a Massiah motion.....something I bet CA defense wishes could apply to Robyn Adams.
The Sunshine laws of FL, without a doubt, makes following cases from FL "easier" than anywhere else. For that reason it just seems like there are more abductions and murders in FL.
I have no doubt many (even the group led by the MIB) want to see justice for Caylee, but I value your take on the cases you follow for the same reason as Judge Strickland....you are fair. I appreciate you call things as you see them and concentrate on the legal aspects of the case, it is clear although you want justice you don't have a dog in the fight. Keep up the great work Dave!
One more thing and I'll shut up :) Great comments on this great post!!!
I wish you well in your endeavor, dadgum, and it looks like it will be a great experience. It sounds very interesting, too.
Oh, I'm glad you weren't gone. One thing you have to know about is that this host, Squarespace, will only keep you signed in for about an hour. That includes me, so it's a little inconvenient that we have to keep signing in if we walk away. I like staying logged in for the day. You fell on ice? 15 weeks? Oh no! I hope you are fully mended now. It's been a rough winter all over.
Baez will not have a chance to stretch this case out. It's going to trial come May 9, by hook or by crook. Judge Perry Rules!
Thank you, dadgum, I'm very pleased you enjoy my posts. I would hope I'm easier than JVM.
Hi Dave,
I am glad you are feeling better, and I hope your dad and mom are doing better.. I missed your blogs.
I am under the impression that Judge Strickland reported Baez to the Florida Bar, because Baez told Dom Casey, if he finds Caylee's body, do not call the police, call Baez instead. In turn, Baez used the in court conversation between you and the judge (about you and your blog), to get back at Judge Strickland to have him recused from Casey's case.
It is a windy 66 today, katfish. No complaints.
Yes, I know you are on my blogroll, but still, if there's something in particular that you want to point out, please don't hesitate to put a link here. Your similarities and differences are fascinating, which leads me to something else. I'm planning on writing something about what the defense should try to do in order to avoid the DP if their client is found guilty. We may want to share notes, although I am taking it from a different angle. I'll let you know as I get closer to writing it. If I didn't give you my phone number, I will e-mail it to you.
The sunshine laws in this state are remarkable and that's helped fuel this story tremendously, and since Florida is a melting pot, a lot of low-lifes move in every day. Speaking of low-lifes, the MIB always spews hatred, hellfire and destruction, and ends it with Justice for Caylee. It's as confusing as his(?) lifestyle.
Hey! I'm glad we are getting great comments. That's exactly what I was thinking about yours.
Hi, OldCarGal! Yes, things are a bit better around the Knechel household. Thank you.
You know, that may have had something to do with the motion asking Judge Strickland to step down, and I'm sure it did, but the general assumption all along has been that this was Mason's doing, and a lot of credentialed people have told me that. I'm sure there was no love lost, but who they have today is well known for leaving no stone unturned, and that means a lesser amount of legitimate reasons to be granted a new trial later on. It's one thing to file an appeal and it's another thing for the appeals court to grant a trial. In appeal after appeal, a convict may sit on death row for a very long time. Incidentally, I will be mentioning something about that shortly.
By the way, I was just the scapegoat. The defense found a hole and used it to their advantage, but in the end, how much of an advantage has it turned out to be?
Well just so that I can jump on the band wagon. I agree with both Stef and Dave.
I for one agree that, as citizens of the United States, I did not take notice of the case of Kayla’s murder trial. Like Dave indicated that was 10 years ago. 10 years ago I was still recovering from a rollover accident which will have long lasting effects on my memory so every day was a learning day. Had it been reported on by the local media and the picked up by the national media perhaps we would all be a little more enraged on what happen to this little girl. Any death to a child is meaningless and cruel. There is no shortage of people who will agree and attest to that but one thing they all will stand behind is that, like you said Dave, Kayla did not have a parental unit lying from day one on where their child was. The mother didn’t make up story after story to throw LE investigators off her trail. Kayla’s mother was not seen on video the day after it is believed Caylee would turn-up missing renting movies. Kayla’s mother did not have more than one sexual partner while telling everyone that her Caylee was in good hands. Kayla’s mother didn’t go out and get inked with a tattoo that, initofitself, was rather odd.
The DP is a sad realism in this world. It is hard, especially hard, when the one person who deserves this punishment is a mother; someone who brings life into the world. What captured our hearts with Caylee is the picture of her looking innocently up at who/what I can imagine is someone she trusted, someone who was supposed to look after her and care for her.
We take away from this a person not a piece of property as I believe KC thought her daughter to be.
Death is the ultimate punishment and is bestowed upon the cruelest, maniacal, cunning perps who walk the earth. Take away the fact that this person is a female makes her no less a monster than if it were a man.
In the guilt phase of the trial, what exactly do the defense have that is even worth calling any witnesses, experts or otherwise? They don't even have a strong case to cast reasonable doubt that someone else put the remains in the woods out at Suburban. What are are they wasting so much effort in trying to say the body was moved? This is very weak defense. It seems Ann Finnell is going to be Casey's salvation and keep her from getting the lethal injection. Ann seems to be the only one who charged into this mess head first, worked hard and has something to show for it.
The trial is to prove the one charged with murdering Caylee is guilty or not guilty. If someone out there helped Casey to move the body, it is not going to soften the blow that a heinous murder took place and the one who committed that crime should be punished, of course, mitigating circumstances will come into play and this is where Ann Finnell has her work cut out for her.
What started out as a dream team for Casey's defense is now just a skeleton crew. The big guns made an exit and they know the real reasons they left. Being professionals, it was much easier to say they left due to lack of finances.
I am shocked that Cheney Mason hasn't made an exit. He could always claim he has to leave due to his work overload. The Anthony case was to be his last big hurrah. I wonder why that changed. I doubt if he needs the money to have to take on these extra cases. Cheney may have took on this case in hopes of getting the DP off the table. Before he even took on the Anthony case, he was on the media beating his gums about what the defense should do. As I recall, he said the best the defense could get for Casey would be LWOP.
Hi, B-Man... well said, well said!
Yes, Kayla's story was a long time ago compared to the lightning speed of news today, but still, it was a horrible crime. I really cited her case because, in too many circumstances, select groups of people cling to one case, like Caylee's, and stop focusing on the horrors of other child murders. To me, every life is precious, and that means EVERY life. I am of the opinion that if a person is against abortion, that person should also be against the death penalty. A life is a life regardless of how long it has been here on earth, or what was manifested during those years. Yes, a murder is a murder, but that would have to include all executions if certain people consider abortions a form of execution. After all, the only difference between the two is time on earth. In both instances, it is man that decides life and death, not God. The problem I have with quoting the Bible is that people use it to their advantage. They quote the Old Testament when it suits their fancy, and turn it around to the New Testament when it works to their advantage. In other words, depending on the case, turning the other cheek can quickly turn into an eye for an eye, and as we move from generation to generation, Biblical passages are reinterpreted or reinvented at the whim of who's running the show.
Although this wasn't my intent here, B-Man, you brought this out in me today, not that I've never mentioned it before or anything, but it's something I've given a great deal of thought to, and your comments are always good for deep thinking.
Yes, there are monsters in the world, male and female, but in my opinion, the death penalty should only be acceptable if abortions are, too. Not that I agree with them, but to believe otherwise would be hypocritical. Just my opinion, of course. Thanks.
Hi, Snoopy - Yup, it all seems ridiculous, but Mason does have a purpose in this trial. Mostly, it's to disperse and diffuse the evidence set forth by the state. His job is not to find Casey not guilty, it's to distort the evidence against her enough that the jury decides the state didn't prove its case. As I've said in the past, we're privvy to a mountain's worth of evidence and a lot of it will never make the courtroom. To us, it's overwhelmingly against her, but take the needle found in the woods. Sure, there was a lot of garbage in there that we got to forage through, but there's no way every tire, every paver stone (hi, Laura!), every empty bottle was tossed in there by Casey. The same thing with the needle. Unless I missed something important, I don't think it will be admissable because it can't be directly linked to Casey. We, the public, got to see it, and I'm sure there are plenty in the public who believe it was the murder instrument, but there's no proof.
Actually, I remember when Mason was dishing out the complete opposite of what he's spewing now, but to be fair, so was Geragos before he took on Scott Peterson. They're like politicians. They're against a platform and turn on a dime.
Snoopy, I will be surprised if the defense even puts on a case in the guilt phase.....but then they do a lot of things that, imo, aren't in the best interest of their client. It seems CM realized this case was NOT going to be his "swan song" so he better pick up a few more cases.
<3 Hope things are going well for you<3
Dave, I know you gave me your # but I'm not sure where it is at....I couldn't find it where I thought I put it when I was in FL. Silly me. When you get a chance please e-mail it to me again, I am happy to compare notes with you anytime.
Dave,
indeed, as always, you make a valid point. I always, ALWAYS find humor in those who rely on the Bible as an outline on how we, as a society, should live. I like what George Carlin said in his stand-up about the 10 commandments and its hypocricy (he will narrow it down to like 3 that we should live by) Dont Kill remained on that list but since the DP is so prevelant these days its hard not to see it being a normal sentence. Perhaps we are just numb to it ya know. Where is the line to which we impose the DP if we are not pro-life. I guess its up to the peron on what he/she considers life?? I will not takle the abortion issue as it alway insights a riot :-) but in the end one life was taken and it was un-just by a person who will, more than likely be sentence to LWOP but she will still be alive.
Oh, but i did one to say one thing, before i forget, about the recusal of Judge Strickland and how Mr. Mason had him removed.
If i recall in a few court apperance when Mr. Mason came on board he vehidamently tried to show there was a established relationship between he and Judge Strickland. It is my opinion that when Judge Strikland did not play into this Mr. Mason was hellbent on finding a way to get rid of him. The "good ol'boy tactic" was not going to play well with the Judge. Mr. Hornsby's comments were priceless and fell short of just calling the defense team as a bunch of dumb arses. (sorry for any spelling errors, i seriously suck at spelling and Daves site doesnt offer spell check ha-ha)
Thanks for the reply Dave! I got all giddy when I saw you were responding to me :)
I am so happy you addressed my questions....There are a few people on my FB page for Caylee that believe she will still cop a plea at the last minute and I always thought that was just crazy and wouldnt happen at this stage of the game...Its comforting to know that is not a possibility for her! I would hate to see her get any more breaks then she already has! And my comment of my "girlfriend" that was murdered, I meant a girl thats a friend....Just wanted to clarify that for my husbands sake..LOL..... Love your posts,love your dedication and your time!!!!!! You rock Dave!!!!
Hi Snoop (and Dave): Well, as the saying goes--"if you do the crime". It's so sobering, though. I'll never forget the day Mr. Ashton took the podium and explained the States theory on how the duct tape was applied to Caylee's face.
The State is really prepared. I think they could go to trial tomorrow.