Judge Denies Sanctions In Casey Anthony Case

Judge Denies Sanctions In Casey Anthony Case
Motion To Withhold Suicide Note Upheld

POSTED: 12:05 pm EDT March 11, 2009
UPDATED: 4:57 pm EDT March 12, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A judge Thursday granted a motion to keep George Anthony's suicide note private at this time as a hearing in the Casey Anthony case began.

Casey Anthony March 13
Casey Anthony in court on Thursday.
Her attorney, Jose Baez, filed the motions, which will be heard starting at 3:30 p.m. in the Orange County Courthouse. (WESH 2 is carrying the hearing live, and it is being streamed live on WESH.com. "Ellen" will be rerun at 2 a.m. Friday, for those who want to record and see the program in full.)

Anthony Arrives In Court | Baez Files Motion Over Casey Anthony Video | Survey: Strongest Evidence Against Casey? | Special Section

In other motions, the defense has requested that state and law enforcement release all DNA notes, reports and details about the standards used to collect evidence. Strickland did not rule on this motion and told the defense to request it from the FBI and other sources. If they still have a problem, then Strickland said he would consider a motion to force the evidence to be turned over.0

In the second motion, Baez wants the judge to punish the state for not telling a defense expert that trash and other items were removed from Casey Anthony's car.

"The defense later learned that investigators had removed some of the physical evidence without informing them," a spokesman for Casey Anthony's defense team, Marti Mackenzi said.

The defense now wants the notes on the items removed from the car.

The third motion from the defense deals with computer pictures on the home computer of Ricardo Morales, Casey Anthony's ex-boyfriend.

Judge Stan Strickland quickly ruled on a motion from the Antony family that prevents the prosecution from releasing George Anthony's suicide note. Anthony survived an attempt to take his life in January.

The main image Baez wants his hands on is a photo that shows two people. Above the picture the caption reads, "Win her over with chloroform."

[Casey Anthony waits for hearing to start Thursday.]
Casey Anthony waits for hearing to start Thursday.
On Wednesday, Baez said that he has seen the videotape of Casey Anthony in jail when she found out a child's remains were found near her home.

Caylee's remains were found exactly three months ago in a wooded area off of Suburban Drive near the Anthonys' East Orange County home as her mother, Casey Anthony, was in jail charged with murder in her death. (Survey: What Do You Think Is The Strongest Evidence Against Casey Anthony?)

Baez said he has seen the tape and it may compromise the attorney-client privilege. Late Thursday, he filed an emergency motion seeking to prevent the tape's release and stop any future taping of him and Anthony together. (PDF: Emergency Motion)

According to a source who has also seen the tape, it shows Baez sitting with Casey Anthony and he appears to be crying. Baez said that is not true.

Authorities said Casey Anthony was purposely taken to the jail infirmary because they knew there was a video camera in there and they knew she would see coverage of the remains discovery on the clinic's television.

In new court papers, Baez acknowledged he has seen the tape and calls it an unauthorized violation of the attorney-client privilege. He's fighting to keep it from being made public.

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