Casey Anthony takes the Fifth in defamation suit

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-casey0309feb03,0,4855543.story

Casey Anthony takes the Fifth in defamation suit


Sarah Lundy | Sentinel Staff Writer
February 3, 2009

Casey Anthony doesn't plan on answering a series of written questions posed on behalf of a woman suing her, including whether Anthony knows who killed her daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony, and whether she was involved.

Anthony, who faces a murder charge in her daughter's death, is going to reply to each question by citing her Fifth Amendment right because of concerns the answers could be used in the criminal case against her, her civil attorney, Jonathan Kasen, said Monday.

Lawyers for Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez, who filed a defamation suit against the Orange County murder suspect, sent the questions to Anthony's attorney Monday, according to court documents.

Circuit Judge Jose R. Rodriguez came up with the compromise of posing written questions last month after Anthony's attorneys tried to stop a videotaped deposition of Anthony in jail.


The judge was trying to balance Fernandez-Gonzalez's civil-court efforts to clear her name and Anthony's rights in the criminal process.

When Caylee's disappearance was first reported in July, Anthony, 22, told investigators that a month earlier she had left the 2-year-old with a baby sitter named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez at Sawgrass Apartments, and when she returned later that day both were gone.

Authorities interviewed 37-year-old Fernandez-Gonzalez, who told them she didn't know Anthony or her daughter.

Caylee's remains were found in December a short walk from the home she shared with Anthony and her grandparents.

Among the questions submitted to Anthony to answer in writing:

*How did you describe (baby sitter Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez) to law enforcement?

*List everyone you told that Caylee was with Zenaida Gonzalez the last time you saw her

*Do you admit the Zenaida Gonzalez who is suing you has never baby-sat for Caylee? Do you admit the story you told law enforcement that Caylee was with someone named Zenaida Gonzalez the last time you saw her is not true?




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