Casey Anthony: Prospective jurors share fears, verdicts - OS

Casey Anthony: Prospective jurors share fears, verdicts
posted by halboedeker on May, 10 2011 1:01 PM

We’re getting an unsettling picture of America from the prospective jurors in the Casey Anthony case.

The people in Clearwater are concerned about their children, jobs, pets and future. One man acknowledged that he’s a chronic worrier and fretted about his cats. A single mom was concerned about leaving her 15-year-old son unattended for the trial’s duration. And people in this tough economy have talked repeatedly about losing pay, being away from their jobs or needing to care for family members.

In the second day of jury selection today, a woman revealed she has prejudged Anthony, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee. The prospective juror said she thought Anthony was guilty. Chief Judge Belvin Perry praised her candor. “In Session” legal contributor Sunny Hostin said it was “lovely” the woman was “so honest and forthright.”

During the noon news, WFTV-Channel 9’s Kathi Belich called it “a dramatic moment” when the woman looked at Anthony and called her guilty. “Casey stared straight at her, blinked and moments later, her eyes reddened,” Belich said.

Belich highlighted a man’s comments that he had followed the case on Nancy Grace’s show. “There was a falling-out with the parents, the grandparents, and I thought that looked very bad,” the man said.

Belich also took note of a change in seating at the defense table: Anthony is sitting away from Jose Baez. They “appeared to have words” yesterday, Belich said, adding that the attorney seemed to tell his client that she was “acting like a child.”

At noon, WESH-Channel 2’s Bob Kealing said more than 30 people had been retained to sit on the jury. Karen Levey, Perry’s spokeswoman, said he was happy with the progress. “I think we’re on the road to sitting the jury,” she said. In the second round of questioning, potential jurors will be asked about the pretrial publicity they’ve seen.

WKMG-Channel 6’s Mike DeForest said the process was “moving along pretty good” and that 37 potential jurors had been identified. DeForest highlighted that a retiring schoolteacher was ready to end her career early to sit on the jury. To a student who is transferring to Valencia College, Judge Perry said, “We can help you with that.”

Perry has had his moments. To a man who wants to be a lawyer, Perry said, “You sure you want to do that?” The continued questioning of another juror, Perry said, would be “like teaching a piglet to sing.” That’s a colorful way to say pointless.

DeForest contrasted a couple of stories: A man who had taken over running the family hardware store for an ill father was dismissed. But a man who recently took a new job and a pay cut to care for a sick daughter is still a potential juror. “Prosecutors asked for that man to be kept around,” DeForest said, because they want someone “who’s had to make sacrifices for his daughter. After all, prosecutors say Casey Anthony made no sacrifices for her daughter and then killed her when she got in the way.”

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/05/casey-anthony-prospective-jurors-share-fears-verdicts.html