Defense's sex-abuse claims may force Casey Anthony to testify - OS

Defense's sex-abuse claims may force Casey Anthony to testify
By Bianca Prieto, Orlando Sentinel
May 28, 2011

Excerpt:

In its effort to provide an alternate theory on how Caylee Anthony died and explain why her mother never reported the child missing, the defense team may have created a scenario in which Casey Anthony must take the stand.

Years of alleged sexual abuse by family members forced Casey Anthony to keep secrets, tell lies and ultimately led her to cover up her daughter's accidental drowning in the backyard pool in June 2008, her attorney José Baez said during opening statements Tuesday.

Though the state has the burden of proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt, Miami-based criminal-defense attorney Daniel Lurvey said Baez now also has something to prove.

"When you come forward with something so strong, you take on an obligation to prove it," Lurvey said. "If you don't [prove it], you're really done. He's created a competing theory."

Lurvey described Baez's tactics during opening arguments as "aggressive" ones that created an "all-or-nothing" situation.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/caylee-anthony/os-casey-anthony-trial-defense-tactic20110528,0,4720635.story