Casey Anthony: Why did court recess today? A very big deal? - Hal

Casey Anthony: Why did court recess today? A very big deal?
posted by halboedeker on June, 25 2011 10:40 AM

There’s no Casey Anthony trial today, and the analysts were speculating why Chief Judge Belvin Perry called a recess until Monday.

The most early answers came from WKMG-Channel 6’s Tony Pipitone. He reported that the matter that caused the recess had nothing to do with an expert that the defense wanted.

“I talked to [defense attorney] Jose Baez after court,” Pipitone reported. “It’s a legal issue that requires them to adjourn until 8:30″ Monday. “Afterward, I talked to a court reporter, now because we have been able to get transcripts of some sidebars. I asked her is that discussion available for me. And she told me no. It is sealed. So the judge sealed that discussion that was taking place behind closed doors. It will not be released to the public. In the past he has sealed things dealing with mental-health issues. He has also sealed things that we don’t know what they were.”

Pipitone highlighted that defense attorney Cheney Mason started the conversation that prompted the recess. Pipitone said the entire defense team left a half-hour after the proceedings ended and that a half dozen defense witnesses were waiting to be called to the stand.

“This is a very big deal,” WKMG legal analyst Mark NeJame said. “The record is sealed and so are the attorneys’ mouths.”

NeJame speculated that the issue deals with a fundamental aspect of the case. “One has to imagine it’s being worked on over the weekend,” NeJame said. “Something is in play. Something has to be fixed or addressed.”

Pipitone and NeJame eliminated certain possibilities: Could it be a possible plea, jury tampering or illness? Everyone said it’s a legal matter. The court reporter had left, so it isn’t likely to be jury tampering. NeJame said a plea was a remote possibility. ”The issue is what else is out there?” NeJame said.

WESH-Channel 2’s Amanda Ober explained that Perry was ” very frustrated” over another discovery issue: The prosecution complained that it had not been informed of a defense witness’ opinions.

“All the players went behind closed closed doors, so there was a delay,” Ober reported. “The judge takes the bench and announces that they’re recessing for the day due to a legal matter. But he makes it clear that it’s not the same legal matter they were arguing over and hashing out this morning. So what legal matter caused the court to recess is a mystery.”

WFTV-Channel 9 legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said the issue “of some importance” apparently came up in a short time. Sheaffer compared what happened to the day that Baez left court during jury selection — an event that set off a lot of incorrect speculation.

Sheaffer predicted the delay would almost certainly mean that the jury won’t get the case until after July 4.

WOFL-Channel 35’s Shannon Butler wondered why George Anthony was “so upset.” WOFL anchor Sonni Abatta had been in the courtroom and didn’t know, but she said that George had excused himself from the courtroom for a short time.

WKMG anchor Matt Austin said that Casey Anthony was in out and out of the court several times this morning, and he described her as stoic. Austin reported that Cindy Anthony left the courtroom for a while, and that George’s eyes were welling up and his nose was running. ”It could have been allergies,” Austin said.

WOFL legal analyst Diana Tennis weighed in on the delay: ”It would have to be something related to the lawyers need time to do something, and typically that means deposition and typically that means a new witness that the other side hasn’t gotten to talk to.”

In today’s discussion, WKMG’s NeJame provided a memorable line about the trial. ”This is a case that is one for the textbooks and one for all future law students,” he said. “You’ll be reading about this for many, many years to come. There is nothing to compare this to. This is a unique case with a unique set of facts that continues to change like the wind changes.”

What do you think?

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/06/casey-anthony-why-did-court-recess-today.html