Casey Anthony: What does prosecution-defense animosity do to case? - Hal

Casey Anthony: What does prosecution-defense animosity do to case?
posted by halboedeker on February, 22 2011 6:43 PM

WESH-Channel 2 tonight explored what animosity between prosecutors and defense attorneys could mean to the Casey Anthony case.

Reporter Bob Kealing described Jeff Ashton’s motion this week against Anthony attorney Jose Baez as an unusual hard line.

“I’ve never seen a prosecutor move to hold a defense attorney in contempt, or any attorney move to hold somebody else in contempt, over something which is relatively minor,” said Orlando attorney Richard Hornsby, who offers analysis for WESH.

In the motion, Ashton highlighted that Baez failed to make a court-ordered Feb. 17 deadline to list objections the defense will raise about scientific evidence at March hearings. Baez has said he was confused about the matter.

What could the bickering mean in the long run? Maybe we’ll see an especially dramatic trial.

Baez hasn’t responded to Ashton’s motion, and WESH couldn’t reach Ashton for comment. But Kealing said the animosity forces Judge Belvin Perry to play referee and divert his attention from more important matters.

But, of course, both judges in this case have had to play referee.

Hornsby predicted that Perry would be frustrated by the sparring. Hornsby also added that the tensions lessen any chance of a pre-trial plea deal.

Such a deal, though, has never seemed likely in this case. What do you think?

Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee. The trial is scheduled to begin in May.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/02/casey-anthony-what-does-prosecution-defense-animosity-do-to-case.html