Why is the state seeking the death penalty? Could be six reasons

Casey Anthony: Why is the state seeking the death penalty? Could be six reasons

— posted by halboedeker on May, 7 2010 6:15 PM

What’s behind the state’s seeking the death penalty in the Casey Anthony case?

The defense wants to know which aggravating circumstances the prosecution will cite in seeking the death penalty. Prosecutors say the reasons should be obvious, WESH-Channel 2 reported this evening.

In a response to a defense motion, prosecutor Jeff Ashton notes there are 15 aggravating circumstances that could lead to the death penalty, and nine wouldn’t apply to Anthony, WESH’s Amanda Ober reported. Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter.

“Four clearly apply to Casey Anthony, and the defense should have no problem figuring it out,” Orlando defense attorney Richard Hornsby told Ober.

And that’s the snarky tone of Ashton’s reply to the defense’s request.

Hornsby said those circumstances are that the victim was younger than 12, that Anthony was the parent; that the crime was premeditated; and that the crime involved aggravated child abuse.

But prosecutors could also argue that Anthony stood to benefit monetarily from Caylee’s death and that the crime was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel.

Ashton has hinted at the cruel nature of the murder when he described Caylee’s mouth as being duct-taped and suggested that the toddler might have looked into the murderer’s eyes, Ober said.

“I don’t think there can be anything more compelling or riveting in proving cruel, atrocious or heinous than that description, ” Hornsby said.


http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2010/05/casey-anthony-why-is-the-state-seeking-the-death-penalty-could-be-six-reasons.html