George’s alleged affair hurts Casey Anthony’s case, WFTV analyst says

George’s alleged affair hurts Casey Anthony’s case, WFTV analyst says

posted by halboedeker on March, 13 2010 8:03 AM

WFTV-Channel 9 billed its report that George Anthony had an affair as a “major development.”

I’d opt for “mighty weird development,” too. It had to be one of the strangest moments in the long, bizarre saga of Caylee and Casey Anthony.

WFTV last night expanded on its report that George Anthony told his alleged mistress that granddaughter Caylee’s death was an accident. WFTV’s Kathi Belich broke the story at 5 p.m. At 11, Belich put her main source, the sister of the alleged mistress, on camera for the 11 p.m. news. Skye Benhaida of Orange County said her twin sister was in love with George Anthony and gave him nearly $5,000. But WFTV never identified the sister or gave any indication it talked to her.

Viewers also could hear Benhaida say, “He said it [Caylee's death] was an accident that snowballed out of control.”

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer explained the gravity of that statement: “This would apparently foreclose any defense that someone outside of the Anthony family is responsible for that child’s death.”

Casey Anthony, George’s daughter, is charged with first-degree murderin the death of her daughter, Caylee. Casey had said she left the child with a nanny named Zenaida Gonzalez.

Benhaida said that George Anthony apparently based his description of Zanny the nanny on her sister. Sheaffer told Belich that if Casey is convicted George Anthony could face possible prosecution as an accessoryafter the fact.

WFTV also showed footage of Benhaida and her sister at Caylee’s memorial service.

In one of the stranger moments, Benhaida laughed as she said she had seen two nude photos of George Anthony with her sister.

This morning, the report was a top story on WFTV’s morning news. Anchor Eric Rasmussen noted that WFTV could not get Casey’s defense team, George’s attorney, the sheriff’s office or the state attorney’s office to comment on the report.

But last night WFTV news director Bob Jordan said the station’s source was “highly credible.” He also said the story wasn’t a one-source report, although Benhaida was the only person quoted about the alleged affair. Benaida told Belich that the affair ended after George “stood up” her sister twice.


http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2010/03/casey-anthony-georges-alleged-affair-hurts-casey-anthonys-case-wftv-analyst-says.html