Casey Anthony: Key defense witness discredited, analyst says - Hal

Casey Anthony: Key defense witness discredited, analyst says
posted by halboedeker on January, 31 2011 6:40 PM

WESH-Channel 2 tonight studied detectives’ efforts to discredit volunteer searcher Laura Buchanan as a witness in the Casey Anthony case. Buchanan is also the focus of an ongoing criminal tampering investigation.

Buchanan had said she found nothing when she searched the area where Caylee Anthony’s remains were later found. Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in her daughter’s death.

WESH’s Bob Kealing reported, “In a newly released deposition from November, Buchanan admitted she made changes to a Texas EquuSearch form she was not supposed to have.” And she told defense attorney Cheney Mason that she had not searched the area where the toddler’s body was later found, Kealing added.

Orlando defense attorney Richard Hornsby, who offers analysis for WESH, said the state had discredited Buchanan.

“It seems very clear that Jose Baez and the defense team relied unwaveringly on Laura Buchanan,” Hornsby said. “Which raises the other question: Why would you believe some woman out of the blue who comes forward with a document that she should not even have?”

Defense attorney Baez did not return WESH’s calls, Kealing said.

Documents released Friday show that Orange County detectives started a tampering investigation against Buchanan and explored her connections to Baez and Cindy Anthony, Casey’s mother.

“Laura Buchanan was hounding my clients … They did not seek her out,” Mark Lippman, attorney for George and Cindy Anthony, told WESH.

WFTV-Channel 9 reminded viewers that attorneys from both sides in the case will be in court Friday for a status hearing.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/01/casey-anthony-key-defense-witness-discredited-analyst-says.html