Casey Anthony: Which way you going, Belvin Perry? - OS

Casey Anthony: Which way you going, Belvin Perry?
posted by halboedeker on April, 28 2011 6:13 PM

Chief Judge Belvin Perry made another big ruling in the Casey Anthony case today, but local newscasts focused on Perry’s travels.WFTV-Channel 9 and WESH-Channel 2 discussed a Perry visit to the Palm Beach County courthouse. WKMG-Channel 6 sent Mike DeForest to West Palm Beach.

“With this much attention in this case, Perry’s every move is being watched,” WFTV anchor Martie Salt said. Jury selection starts May 9 in the Anthony trial — the destination to be revealed that morning. She is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee.

But was too much being read into Perry’s stop in West Palm Beach on Wednesday? I guess we’ll know for sure on May 9. Until then, the speculation will flourish.

DeForest said it took three hours to drive to West Palm Beach from Orlando. “For some reason, Judge Belvin Perry toured the Palm Beach County courthouse just yesterday, according to sheriff’s officials here, and he met with the chief judge of this circuit,” DeForest said.

“Court administrators say he has visited several locations that he’s been considering to find a jury,” WFTV’s Kathi Belich said.

Court Administrator Karen Levey told Belich she couldn’t discuss the potential sites or whether Perry has made a decision.

“Judge Perry indicated that he went to visit a friend” at the Palm Beach County courthouse, Levey told WESH’s Bob Kealing. And what of Levy accompanying the judge on Wednesday? “I handle a lot of things unrelated to Casey Anthony and travel with Judge Perry for meetings and such,” she told Kealing.

“I don’t think Judge Perry goes to Palm Beach County on a whim,” said retired Judge O.H. Eaton, WESH’s legal analyst. “I don’t believe that he is still looking for a location. He’s got a location in mind, and this appears to be a good shot.” Eaton said West Palm Beach would be a fine choice for the defense and prosecution, Kealing added.

On WESH, reporter Terri Parker said Palm Beach County is a top contender for jury selection because of its similarities in demographics to Orange County. WKMG’s DeForest agreed, because the populations in the two areas are of similar size, and so are household income and education levels.

Yet WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said population makeup doesn’t matter because Casey isn’t a minority. Perry “is not looking for a population that resides under a rock,” Sheaffer said. “He’s looking for a population that may have heard something about this case but haven’t formed an opinion.”

WKMG’s DeForest found a woman in West Palm Beach who identifed a photo of Casey Anthony as “Casey Anderson.”

Is that a good sign?

Also today, Perry ruled that plant growth evidence will be heard at the trial. Its importance? “Prosecutors say [it] shows Caylee’s body was left in the woods near the Anthony home soon after she disappeared,” WFTV anchor Bob Opsahl said.

Perry is still working on a ruling about air tests performed on Anthony’s car.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/04/casey-anthony-which-way-you-going-belvin-perry.html