Casey Anthony Polls: Majority of Americans Unhappy With Verdict
The majority of the public disagrees with the "not guilty" verdict handed to Casey Anthony on Tuesday.
Americans have taken to Facebook, Twitter and online polls to express their thoughts on the highly publicized trial that ended with the acquittal of Anthony in the murder of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. She was found guilty only on counts of lying to law enforcement officers.
Among 11 polls, most showed disapproval over the jury’s final verdict. Less than 30 percent agreed with the jury.
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The following list includes results from various polls on whether the public agreed with the jury’s verdict:
Huffington Post
Do you agree with the verdict?
Yes 30.63%
No 69.37%
Cleveland.com
Do you agree with the verdict?
Yes: 20.18%
No: 79.82%
NJ.com
Do you agree with the Casey Anthony verdict?
Yes: 18.96%
No: 81.04%
uppermichiganssource.com
Do you agree with the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial?
Yes: 25%
No 75%
CBS 6
Do you agree or disagree with the Casey Anthony jury's verdict?
Yes: 23%
No: 77%
Q104 Radio Station
Did the jury make the right decision?
Yes: 17.39 %
No: 82.61 %
KTLA.com
Do you agree with the jury's not guilty verdict in the Casey Anthony murder trial?
Yes: 16 %
No: 78%
Al.com
Do you agree with the Casey Anthony trial verdict?
Yes 76.97%
No: 23.03%
The participants for each poll were from 575 people (NJ.com) up to 45,934 people (CBS 6).
The majority of the media as well as the public find the decision reminiscent of the high-profile murder case of O.J. Simpson in 1995 when he was also found not guilty for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. People magazine hosted a poll asking the public which verdict shocked them more: the Casey Anthony or the O.J. Simpson. Sixty one percent were dismayed by the Casey Anthony verdict and 39 percent by the O.J. Simpson verdict.
The Christian Post hosted a poll where the majority of participants disagreed with the jury’s verdict. The one exception is an overwhelming majority, 92 percent, agreed with the jury over finding Anthony guilty of providing false information to law enforcement officers.
Celebrities from Miley Cyrus to Kim Kardashian agree with the public and convicted Casey Anthony of murder through social media. However, attorneys like Doug Mataconis finds the public’s opinion “as yet another example of how the media can pervert the public perception of the justice system,” according to the posting on his website.
He added, “being found ‘not guilty’ doesn’t mean the Defendant didn’t do it, but it does mean it couldn’t be proven within the bounds of the law, and it reflects the value that we’ve placed on ensuring that only someone who is assuredly guilty goes to prison (or gets executed). As the old saying goes, it’s better that ten guilty men go free than one innocent man goes to prison.”
An alternate juror, Russell Huekler, agreed over the jury’s decision because the case, which includes 33 days of testimony, the 400 pieces of evidence and more than 90 witnesses, had little evidence to prove how Caylee Anthony died.
Huekler told ABC News, “The prosecution failed to prove their case and there was reasonable doubt. Again, they didn't show us how Caylee died. They didn't show us a motive. I'm sorry people feel that way. ... These were 17 total jurors. They really listened to this case and kept an open mind.”
Casey Anthony is waiting for her final sentencing over four misdemeanor counts of lying to investigators, where each carry a maximum sentence of one year. Judge Belvin Perry could sentence her Thursday July 7.
