Casey Anthony: How far along is jury selection? - Hal

Casey Anthony: How far along is jury selection?
posted by halboedeker on May, 17 2011 12:48 PM

Day eight of jury selection in the Casey Anthony case was the top story on noon newscasts.

Eleven possible jurors were in the running, WFTV-Channel 9 anchor Greg Warmoth said. Chief Judge Belvin Perry said he can’t swear in the jurors until there are 12, then he will turn to alternates, WESH-Channel 2’s Bob Kealing reported.

Adam Longo of Central Florida News 13 said the process was “going very slowly” because the potential jurors were being called in from home, and he speculated that the trial wouldn’t start this week. Perry had hoped the trial would start today.

About the alternate issue, WKMG-Channel 6’s Mike DeForest said that Perry “originally wanted eight and he’s certainly going to settle for less” during the selection process in Clearwater.

DeForest speculated that Perry would need two to four alternates. “What if somebody gets sick on this jury panel or there’s another reason that he can’t serve over this two-month trial?” DeForest asked. “It’s very possible we could be back here again tomorrow for jury selection.”

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer predicted that the jury-selection process was only about two-thirds completed. Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee.

Longo of News 13 said there were 17 potential jurors when the day started, but six were excused, and four more potential jurors were dismissed this morning.

“The only person who said she cannot judge people based on what others say is the only one who’s all but assured to be on Casey Anthony’s jury, and prosecutors are concerned she’ll hang the jury,” WFTV’s Kathi Belich said.

But Chief Judge Belvin Perry again rejected the prosecution’s argument.

WESH’s Kealing focused on a potential juror, a woman, who said she couldn’t understand Casey’s partying behavior after Caylee disappeared. Kealing noted that Anthony averted her eyes during those comments. That woman was dismissed after she would have been “hysterical” if her child was missing.

WFTV jury analyst Randy Fisher said some potential jurors were simply hard to read and speculated that both sides ”fear they may turn into loose cannons who could hurt them.”

Longo of News 13 predicted that getting to the number 12 could be difficult, because the defense and prosecution each has five challenges. “Worst-case scenario, we could end this day with only one juror left,” Longo said.

Longo also highlighted a lighter moment today: Perry said he would help a potential juror who gave up tickets to a Milwaukee Brewers game. Perry indicated he would help the man get good tickets later, and the man said he would hold Perry to that promise, Longo reported. Perry wrote down his phone number and gave it to the man, Longo added.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/05/casey-anthony-how-far-along-is-jury-selection.html