Casey Anthony's Lawyers Rebuke Media, Attorneys for Exploitation
Casey Anthony’s defense team made a statement on Tuesday after their victory in court, where Anthony was found not guilty for first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated manslaughter of child.
Defense attorney Cheney Mason harshly criticized the media and other lawyers for giving their baseless opinions on television and other outlets.
“Well I hope this is a lesson to those of you who have indulged in media assassination for three years, bias, prejudice, incompetent talking heads saying what would be and how be,” Mason angrily shared.
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“I’m disgusted by lawyers who have done this. And my colleagues have condemned this whole process of lawyers getting on cases that they don’t know a damn thing about.”
Changing the tone dramatically, lead defense attorney Jose Baez took a rather somber approach and stated that there were no winners in this case, though he was ecstatic and happy for his defendant.
“What my driving force has been for the last three years has been always to make sure there has been justice for Casey and Caylee because Casey did not murder Caylee. It’s that simple,” Baez expressed.
“Today, our system of justice has not dishonored her memory by a false conviction.”
Also stating that the case had been a lesson for everyone including the media and the criminal justice system, Baez pressed, “You cannot convict someone until they’ve had their day in court.”
All throughout the case, defense attorneys were trying to provide doubt to the state’s claims that Casey suffocated her daughter and dumped her body in the nearby woods in order to enjoy freedom from motherhood.
They brought in forensic experts who sought to oppose the state’s own witnesses who purported that the remains of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony indicated homicide and that the smell of human decomposition was present in Casey’s car.
Jurors were evidently convinced by the defense’s presentation that the defendant did not murder her child beyond a reasonable doubt, acquitting her of murder.
“We have the greatest constitution in the world and if the media and other members of the public do not respect it, it will become meaningless and today and yesterday on the 4th of July there was a breath of life in it.”
Baez also acknowledged the hard and commendable work of the prosecutors, praising Linda Drane Burdick as one of the best lawyers he had ever seen.
Even praising Jeff Ashton, whom he had on more than one occasion openly fought with in court, Baez stated, “Mr. Ashton is a fierce opponent.”
“I think the three of them have served the state of Florida very well.”
Taking advantage of his time, he also sought to express his opinion on the death penalty. Baez hoped that the case would serve as an example of why the death penalty does not work.
“We all need to stop and look and think twice about a country who decides to kill its own citizens. Murder’s not right no matter who does it whether it’s a ritual killing or someone becoming a victim in a drive-by shooting,” he added. “It’s disgusting and if this case gets any attention it should focus on that issue – that we need to stop trying to kill our own people.”
Concluding his long speech by giving thanks in Spanish to his family members and supporters, Baez said, “The best feeling I have today is when I go home and my daughter asks me, ‘What did you do today?’ I can say ‘I saved a life.’”
Defense attorney Dorothy Sims also expressed her thanks for the verdict on behalf of Casey.
Though given an opportunity to speak before the public, each member of the jury decided not to comment presently.
Casey, 25, was found guilty on four counts of lying to law enforcement and will receive her sentence Thursday morning. She may potentially face four years in jail.
