07 July,2011 07:09 AM IST | | Agencies
Casey Anthony, a Florida resident accused of allegedly murdering her two-year-old daughter was found not guilty by jury
A Florida jury found Casey Anthony not guilty yesterday of murdering her two-year-old daughter Caylee in 2008, stunning many legal experts and media pundits, who had predicted she would be convicted in a bizarre case that riveted millions of Americans.
According to the prosecution, Casey smothered Cayleeu00a0and then drove around with her body in the car's trunk and then dumped her in the woods. However, the defence claimed it was an accidental drowning
The verdict means the 25-year-old Casey not only will not face the death penalty, which prosecutors planned to seek if she had been convicted of first-degree murder, but could soon be out of jail.
She was found guilty of lying to police, but will get credit for the nearly three years she has already spent in jail since her arrest.
"Casey did not murder Caylee. It's that simple," defence attorney Jose Baez told reporters after the verdict was announced.
Prosecution says
State Attorney Lawson Lamar, speaking for the prosecutors, conceded that their circumstantial evidence was not enough to remove "reasonable doubt" in the minds of the jurors. "We're disappointed with the verdict today and surprised because we know the facts," Lamar said.
The prosecution said Casey smothered Caylee with duct tape on June 16, 2008, drove around for several days with Caylee's body in her car trunk and then dumped the remains in woods near the Anthony family home.
The defence argued that Caylee died in an accidental drowning in the family's backyard pool.
With no further action to take in the case against Casey, Lamar said his office will move on to other pending murder cases.
Not guilty
Twelve jurors, sequestered in an Orlando hotel for more than six weeks because of the intense media coverage of the trial, deliberated nearly 11 hours over two days.
They declined to speak with reporters after reaching their decision. Sheriff's officials planned to drive the jurors and alternates back to their homes on Florida's west coast.
The jury found Casey not guilty of the felonies of aggravated child abuse or aggravated manslaughter of a child.
Casey initially told detectives Caylee had been kidnapped by a nanny, triggering a nationwide search. It ended on December 11, 2008, when Caylee's skeletal remains were found in woods near the Anthony family home with duct tape dangling from her skull.
Casey, who did not testify at the trial, appeared visibly nervous before the verdict, downcast and biting her lip.
The trial caught the attention of much of the nation, with curiosity fed by live coverage of testimony on cable news. The notoriety of the case prompted comparisons to the murder trial of OJ Simpson.
News of the verdict brought a flurry of Internet activity, with observers flocking to Facebook and Twitter to register their reactions. It was the top trending topic on Google and the most tweeted topic on Twitter.
Everyone seemed to have an opinion on Casey's guilt or innocence, whether they had watched coverage on TV or made side trips to the courthouse during their Florida vacations.
Big bucks
Book and movie-deal rumours are already swirling after Casey Anthony was found not guilty in her 2-year-old daughter's death.
OJ Simpson Trial 2
Casey Anthony's trial is drawing comparisons to another trial that took place a few decades ago, that is the trial of OJ Simpson in 1995, where the American football star OJ Simpson was accused of murdering his ex-wife. Both the cases are similar, as both cases had strong evidence against the accused but the jury decided otherwise.
Monster mothers
In 1983, Diane Downs shot her three children, killing one. The motive: her obsession with a married man who didn't want children. She was charged with one count of murdeand was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years.
In October 1994, Susan Smith drowned her two young sons, buckling them into their car seats and pushing the car into a South Carolina lake. She was convicted of two murders and sentenced to life in prison.
In 2005, China Arnold was accused of killing her three-week-old daughter in a microwave oven in Ohio. She was sentenced to life in prison.
Twitter reactions
What???!!!!??? Casey Anthony Found Not Guilty!!!! I am speechless
Kim Kardashian
Wow. Ok, now this case has my attn. Not guilty? Really? I just assumed ufffd
Kathy Griffin
Shocked about the verdict in the casey anthony trial! Thought she was guilty for sure! Tragic story
Mandy Moore
