Casey Anthony: Potential jurors and a possible trial start - Hal

Casey Anthony: Potential jurors and a possible trial start
posted by halboedeker on May, 16 2011 6:42 PM

How was the seventh day of jury selection in the Casey Anthony case?

“Productive,” WESH-Channel 2 anchor Jim Payne said.

“Just within the past 10 minutes, the judge announced they’ll wait until tomorrow morning to decide whether any of the 17 jury finalists should be eliminated,” WFTV-Channel 9 anchor Martie Salt said as the 6 p.m. news started. “If 12 survive the elimination, then they’ll be sworn in.”

WFTV’s Kathi Belich described the group from Pinellas County: Nine men and eight women. Most were white — two were African Americans — and most were in their 40s. They include a nurse, a truck driver, a counselor, a chef and several students. WFTV jury specialist Randy Fisher called attention to the counselor, who ”speaks in beautiful, complete sentences” and could be persuasive.

WKMG-Channel 6’s Tony Pipitone said the process could “get interesting” because the prosecution and defense each has eight strikes — or eight people — they could get off the jury. “If the defense really wants to take out a lot of these jurors, for instance, we could be back here again on Wednesday,” Pipitone said. “The intention of the court right now was to get this thing done tomorrow, have Wednesday off and get the trial started on Thursday.”

Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee.

WESH’s Bob Kealing said looked at the defense: “Jose Baez is sending signals that the defense is unhappy with the number of potential jurors who can’t seem to follow Perry’s instruction to put their personal feelings aside.”

WFTV’s Belich explained the defense could use all of its eight remaining challenges at once to eliminate as many potential jurors as possible, then ask the judge for more challenges. WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer predicted that approach wouldn’t work and noted that would give the prosecution the edge in choosing the jury.

WFTV’s jury expert Fisher said, “The state is basically just trying to eliminate any juror they think may be biased against the prosecution and we haven’t seen one of them yet.”

WKMG’s Pipitone marveled that one woman who knew a lot about the case was questioned for 90 minutes before the prosecution decided it didn’t want her. “She was fascinating because she knew so much about this case,” he said. “A lot of these younger people are not really watching a lot of news, reading a lot of newspapers. Some of the older people are.”

Anthony’s demeanor was a recurring topic.

WESH’s Kealing said that Anthony “appeared more engaged in the process, keeping track of juror candidates’ comings and goings.”

WFTV’s Belich said Anthony was “in ivory today, looking more put together.” Belich also highlighted that Anthony reacted (she mouthed “wow”) when a woman told of getting away from a home invader.

On “In Session,” Vinnie Politan wondered how much input Anthony, who was taking notes today, would have on jury selection. Orlando attorney Diana Tennis, who was offering analysis, said she asks her clients for their thoughts. “I tell them watch carefully, give me feedback,” she said. And she asks them, “Who looked you in the eye and gave you that kind evil stare? Who did you have a good sense of?”

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/05/casey-anthony-potential-jurors-and-a-possible-trial-start.html