Casey Anthony: How will state wrap up? Will Casey testify? - Hal

Casey Anthony: How will state wrap up? Will Casey testify?
posted by halboedeker on June, 13 2011 6:40 PM

“We’re reaching a major milestone in Casey on trial: The prosecution is about to wrap up its case,” WFTV-Channel 9 anchor Bob Opsahl said in opening a newscast tonight.

The trial broke early today and will resume at 1 p.m. Tuesday, when more prosecution witnesses will take the stand. The break gave everyone time to assess the trial so far and speculate on what’s coming next.

WKMG-Channel 6 legal analyst Mark NeJame said the prosecution, which he said had done an excellent job in telling story, will want to conclude with a flourish. “We’re going to have to have a powerful end,” NeJame said.

Geraldo Rivera told WOFL-Channel 35 that the state had built “a massive forensics case” that is “extremely convincing.” Casey Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee.

But Rivera highlighted that Casey’s fingerprints and DNA are not on the duct tape. And Rivera dismissed the heart-shaped residue on the duct tape, saying it has disappeared and seems like “seeing the face of the Creator in a potato chip.”

WOFL legal analyst Diana Tennis criticized the prosecution’s case as scatter shot on duct tape and chloroform. She said the evidence doesn’t support premeditation, either. “All of the evidence points to … spur of the moment — carrying a child around in your car for three to five days is just not a well-thought-out plan of murder,” Tennis said.

WKMG’s Tony Pipitone speculated that the state could end with Cindy Anthony and video of Caylee visiting her great-grandfather in a nursing home. “You see Caylee Anthony talking, very verbal,” Pipitone said. “The victim in this case was starting to talk, and … she could start to tell other people that, ’No, there is no Zanny the nanny.’ ”

WFTV’s Kathi Belich explained the new timetable: “The state could rest tomorrow or Wednesday. The defense was planning to start presenting its case Thursday, but is now working to be ready sooner.”

Amanda Ober of WESH-Channel 2 speculated that the defense will call George Anthony, Casey’s father, and former meter reader Roy Kronk to the stand.

WESH legal analyst Jeff Deen predicted that Casey Anthony won’t take the stand and said her testimony alone would take at least a week. “Can you imagine the prosecutor taking her through 31 days of lies?” Deen asked.

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer also doesn’t see Casey taking the stand. The reasons? Her check-fraud convictions could be discussed and prosecutors could explore Jose Baez’s admissions that she is a liar, Belich reported.

WOFL’s Tennis reiterated that she thinks the defense will put Casey on the stand because of the opening statement with ”huge, specific allegations that are shocking.” Tennis added, “They’re going to put on the only witness they have that can talk about those things, and that’s her.” But Tennis, in refreshingly candid moment, noted that she was batting about .500 in her predictions.

WESH legal analyst Richard Hornsby predicted that Kronk, who found Caylee’s remains, will take the stand. “I’ve got to think the defense is literally running around Florida trying to figure out where he is to serve a subpoena on him, cause I don’t think they expected the state not to call him,” Hornsby said.

On WOFL, Rivera predicted that viewers will see a lot of George and Cindy Anthony when the defense starts its case and predicted that the state would wait to talk to the parents then.

Rivera also sharply criticized the state’s use of animation that showed Caylee deteriorating to a skull while her mother was smiling in the same photo. “Why didn’t they put devil horns on Casey’s head?” Rivera asked. He described the animation as “very prejudicial” and predicted it will be one reason that an appellate court will reverse a likely conviction.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/06/casey-anthony-how-will-state-wrap-up-will-casey-testify.html