Casey Anthony: Analysts say jail tape could become appeal issue - Hal

Casey Anthony: Analysts say jail tape could become appeal issue
posted by halboedeker on February, 28 2011 5:39 PM

TV analysts weren’t surprised today that prosecutors have decided against using a jailhouse video of Casey Anthony at her murder trial. The tape, from December 2008, showed Anthony’s reactions on the day that remains, later identified as her daughter, were found.

Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee Marie, and her defense team has argued that she was set up when the tape was made.

”The more it was staged to get her reaction, the greater danger it is that it could become an issue on appeal,” WFTV-Channel 9 legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said.

WESH-Channel 2 analyst Richard Hornsby agreed. “There’s no need to jeopardize the entire case over one piece of questionable evidence,” Hornsby told Bob Kealing.

Hornsby also said the tape “was the one piece of evidence that clearly was the result of law enforcement overstepping its bounds, and I think this is a recognition by the state attorney’s office they would probably lose on this issue.”

On WKMG-Channel 6, legal analyst Mark O’Mara said the tape was “too staged and it could have blown up in their face.” He called it a good decision by the state not to use the tape.

Prosecutors also revealed they won’t use statements that Anthony made to investigators on the day she was indicted or statements by inmate Maya Derkovic, a jail pal of Anthony.

Derkovic’s story “grew with time,” said WFTV’s Kathi Belich, who had interviewed the woman. “She told Channel 9 Casey talked about chloroform but never mentioned that to investigators,” Belich said.

WKMG’s O’Mara called convicted killer Derkovic “too tainted” as a “jail-house snitch.” WKMG’s Tony Pipitone said that Derkovic’s allegation that Anthony told her she used chloroform on Caylee “appears to be just garbage — nobody believes it.”

Belich also reminded viewers that Anthony, on the day was indicted, told investigators that she wouldn’t be tricked into a confession. Sheaffer called Anthony’s statements equivocal and added, “You can spin on it what you want.”

WFTV highlighted that it’s a busy week in the case with hearings on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/02/casey-anthony-analysts-say-jail-tape-could-become-appeal-issue.html