Introduction to criminal justice essay two casey anthony trial PDF

Preview

Summary

Casey Anthony trial exam...

Description

1

The Casey Anthony Trial Gary D Rowe Park University

The Casey Anthony Trial

2

Abstract In this dissertation I will analyze and report on the trial of Casey Anthony. I will elucidate several aspects of her trial such as: the crime she was charged for, the evidence presented in her case, the prosecution and the defense’s methods and tactics, and the punishment she was given. I will also express my assessment and opinion of her trial and her punishment.

The Casey Anthony Trial

3

Casey Anthony Trial

“The Casey Anthony trial was a criminal trial held in Orlando, Florida from May 9 to July 5, 2011 in the state's Ninth Judicial Circuit Court involving the death of two year old Caylee Marie Anthony. Caylee's mother, Casey Marie Anthony, was arrested on July 16, 2008 and indicted on charges of first degree murder on October 14, 2008.” (Unknown Author) Anthony maintained that she was innocent and that the child died accidentally by drowning in the family swimming pool. Caylees cause of death could never be determined.

The Anthony case introduced new forensic science that has yet to be reviewed. The University of Tennessee's Body farm discovered hair banding, a phenomenon in which hair roots can form a dark band after death. A hair found in the trunk of the Anthony car exhibited this pattern. “Air samples were sent to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory On October 24, 2008, a forensic report by Dr. Arpad Vass of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) stated that results from an air sampling procedure performed in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car showed chemical compounds consistent with a decomposition event.” (Unknown Author) This was based on the presence of five key chemical compounds out of over 400 possible chemical compounds that Dr. Vass' research group considers typical of decomposition. Whether or not the decomposition was human is unknown, but was indicated as a possibility. The process has not been affirmed in the courts and is widely still considered unproven science. In the evidence hearings, Dr. Ken Furton, a professor in chemistry at Florida International University, stated that there is no consensus in the field on what chemicals are typical of human decomposition.

The Casey Anthony Trial

4

Evidence was found that someone had searched the Internet on Casey Anthony's computer for the use of chloroform and how to make it. “On November 26, 2008, officials released 700 pages of documents related to the Anthony investigation, which included evidence of Google searches of the terms neck breaking, how to make chloroform, and death on Casey Anthony's home computer.” (Unknown Author) “On February 18, 2009, documents released by the State Attorney's Office in Florida indicated that the same type of laundry bag, duct tape, and plastic bags discovered at the crime scene were found in the house where Casey and Caylee resided.” (Unknown Author) The documents also indicated that Cindy Anthony stated to them that a Winnie the Pooh blanket was missing from Caylee's bed. This type of blanket was found at the crime scene.

“Jury selection began on May 9, 2011, at the Pinellas County Criminal Justice Center in Clearwater, Florida, because the case had been so widely reported in the Orlando area. Jurors were brought from Pinellas County to Orlando.” (Unknown Author) Jury selection took longer than expected and ended with twelve jurors and five alternates being sworn in. The panel contained nine women and eight men. It was estimated that the trial would last about two months, during which the jury would be sequestered to avoid influence from information available outside the courtroom.

“The trial began on May 24, 2011, at the Orange County Courthouse, with Judge Belvin Perry presiding.” (Unknown Author) The defense, led by Jose Baez, presented its claim that Caylee drowned accidentally in the family's pool, and was found by George Anthony, Caylees

The Casey Anthony Trial grandfather, who then covered up Caylees death and made it so that it would be a secret kept between himself and Casey. This, the defense argued, is why Casey Anthony went on with her life and failed to report her child missing for 31 days.

The prosecution, led by Jeffrey Ashton, alleged an intentional murder and sought the death penalty against Casey Anthony. Prosecutors alleged that Anthony used chloroform to render her daughter unconscious before putting duct tape over her nose and mouth to suffocate her, and left Caylee's body in the trunk of her car for several days before disposing of it. The prosecution painted Anthony as a party girl who killed her daughter to free herself from parental responsibility and to enjoy her personal life.

“Closing arguments were given on July 2 and 3.” (Unknown Author) Baez contended that there were holes in the prosecutions forensic evidence, saying it was “based on a fantasy.” (Unknown Author) Baez claimed that the prosecution did not prove that the stains in Anthony's car trunk were caused necessarily by Caylee's decomposing body, but rather from a trash bag found there. He added that the prosecutors tried to make his client look like a promiscuous liar because their evidence was weak. He said “the drowning is the only explanation that makes sense.” (Unknown Author) Then the prosecutor showed jurors a photograph of Caylee opening the homes sliding glass door by herself. He stressed that there were no child safety locks in the home, and that both of Casey Anthony's parents, George and Cindy Anthony, testified that Caylee could get out of the house easily. Baez, told jurors his biggest fear was that they would base their verdict on emotions, not evidence. "The strategy behind that is, if you hate her, if you think she's lying, then you'll start to look at this evidence in a different light. I told you at the

5

The Casey Anthony Trial

6

very beginning of this case that this was an accident that snowballed out of control.” (Unknown Author) He rationalized Casey Anthony's behavior as the result of her dysfunctional family situation. Fellow defense attorney, Cheney Mason, then followed with an additional hour-long closing argument. Mason said that the jurors are required whether they like it or not, to find the defendant not guilty if the state did not adequately prove its case against Casey.

“On July 3, 2011, the prosecutor, Jeff Ashton, told the jury, "When you have a child, that child becomes your life. This case is about the clash between that responsibility, and the expectations that go with it, and the life that Casey Anthony wanted to have." (Unknown Author) He outlined the state's case against Casey Anthony, touching on her many lies to her parents and others. Including the smell in her car's trunk, and the items found with Caylee's skeletal remains. He emphasized how Anthony "maintains her lies until they absolutely cannot be maintained any more, and then replaces them with another lie.” (Unknown Author) He then used Zenaida Gonzalez, the alleged nanny, as an example. Anthony repeatedly told police that Caylee was with Zenaida. Police, however, were never able to find the nanny. Authorities did find a woman named Zenaida Gonzalez, but she denied ever meeting the Anthonys. Ashton reintroduced the items found with Caylee's remains, including a Winnie the Pooh blanket that matched the bedding at her grandparents' home, one of a set of laundry bags with the twin bag found at the Anthony home, and duct tape he said was a relatively rare brand. "That bag is Caylee's coffin,” (Unknown Author) Ashton said, holding up a photograph of the laundry bag, He further criticized the defense's theory that Caylee drowned in the Anthony pool, and that Casey and George Anthony panicked upon finding the child's body and covered up her death. He advised

The Casey Anthony Trial

7

jurors to use their common sense when deciding on a verdict. "No one makes an accident look like murder.” (Unknown Author)

“On July 5, the jury found Casey Anthony not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated child abuse, but guilty on four misdemeanor counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer. On July 7, Anthony was sentenced to one year in jail and $1,000 in fines, the maximum penalty prescribed by law, for each of the four counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer, with the sentences to be served consecutively. Anthony received three years credit for time served plus additional credit for good behavior, resulting in her release date being set for July 17, 2011.” (Unknown Author)

To summarize this dissertation I have analyzed and reported on the trial of Casey Anthony. I elucidated several aspects of her trial such as: the crime she was charged for, the evidence presented in her case, the prosecution and the defense’s methods and tactics, and the punishment she was given. It was extremely difficult writing this essay as short as I did, and even with that effort it still ended up being longer than directed. There is a lot more that can be said about this case. My assessment or what I have learned rather, came as I read about this case from several websites and as I watched several excerpts from the court room. I concluded that I agree with the verdict that the jury decided on. Although I have no opinion as to whether she is guilty or innocent. I can appreciate both sides of this case, and both are plausible. However the justice system we operate under requires that a prosecutor must prove a defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and they failed to do so. The majority of the evidence was circumstantial and we may never know what actually happened. Getting past your emotions and your own personal

The Casey Anthony Trial beliefs is what is required in any court case, and the jury certainly exemplified that in this situation. As to Casey Anthony’s guilt or innocence I have no clue, no one does really. If she is guilty I am sure that she will face judgment for it in the future, just not today.

“It amazes me sometimes that even intelligent people will analyze a situation or make a judgment after only recognizing the standard or traditional structure of a piece.” (Bowie)

8

The Casey Anthony Trial

References

Bowie, D. (n.d.). Brainy Quotes. Retrieved from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/judgement.html

Scott, M. (n.d.). Prosecutors to Seek Death Penalty in Casey Anthony Case. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=7328024

Unknown Author. (n.d.). Casey Anthony trial. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casey_Anthony_trial

9...