Jury Begins Deliberations on Anthony

Roy Kronk's testimony contradict's defense's implications

(NEWSER) - Casey Anthony's defense team did indeed ask for a mistrial yesterday , citing a court ruling finding Florida's death penalty statute unconstitutional. If granted, Anthony would get an entirely new jury, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Meanwhile, her trial continues, with lots of witnesses called yesterday and today:

• Roy Kronk: The meter reader who discovered Caylee's remains testified that he informed authorities he saw something that looked like a skull in the woods, but that he never got closer than 30 feet to it. His testimony is significant because the defense team has insinuated Kronk may have tampered with the placement of Caylee's remains to snag a reward, notes AP .

Defense says state never proved the crime beyond a reasonable doubt

(NEWSER) - Casey Anthony sobbed and glared this morning as the prosecutor painted a picture of her as a devious liar who opted to kill her only child so that she'd be free to go clubbing. "Something needed to be sacrificed, that something was either the life she wanted or the life thrust upon her," said Jeff Ashton in his closing argument. "She chose to sacrifice her child." Ashton reminded jurors of the duct tape placed over Caylee Anthony's mouth, saying, "That tape was placed there for one singular purpose. This murder was premeditated." More»

Her lawyers asked for an evaluation over the weekend

(NEWSER) - Casey Anthony's murder trial resumed today after being abruptly halted Saturday, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Anthony's attorneys filed a motion over the weekend stating that their client "is not competent to aid and assist in her own defense and is incompetent to proceed." But after an evaluation ordered by Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Anthony was deemed competent. More»

Cindy Anthony says she looked up the word, not her daughter

(NEWSER) - The testimony of Casey Anthony's mother today produced what the Orlando Sentinel calls a "stunning revelation": Cindy Anthony said it was she, not her daughter, who searched the term “chloroform” on the family computer. (She said it was an innocent search related to a hunt for information about chlorophyll and her bamboo plants, notes CNN .) She also searched for trauma- and injury-related terms and said a stain in Casey Anthony’s trunk was there when they bought the car. Prosecutors have proposed that the stain came from Caylee’s body. More»

Judge Belvin Perry not happy about delays, threatens exclusion

(NEWSER) - Judge Belvin Perry is not happy with the prosecution or the defense in the Casey Anthony murder trial, and he cut court short today while threatening both sides with exclusion, which would mean bumping witnesses from the trial. What seemed to set him off: Prosecutor Jeff Ashton asked Perry to delay testimony from two forensic experts, saying the defense hadn't given him enough info about what the witnesses would testify about. Defense attorney Jose Baez then said the prosecutor's inability to take depositions from all defense witnesses highlighted his "inexperience." More»