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Prosecutors Hid Screw-Up in Anthony Trial: Witness

She only searched for chloroform once

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 19, 2011 8:51 AM CDT

(Newser) – The prosecution witness who testified that Casey Anthony ran online searches for “chloroform” 84 times says he screwed up—and that prosecutors ignored him when he let them know. The prosecution used John Bradley’s software to make its assertions about Anthony’s search habits. But Bradley tells the New York Times that he redesigned the software in June, and discovered he’d been wrong—the search had only been run once, and led only to a single site, which dealt with 19th-century chloroform use.

Bradley says he immediately alerted police and prosecutors, and even gave them spreadsheets of the new data. Yet prosecutors never told the defense, and continued to refer to the 84-search figure in court. By law, prosecutors must reveal all potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense. “If in fact this is true … it is more than shame on them. It is outrageous,” says one of Anthony’s lawyers. “This was a major part of their case.”

Casey Anthony leaves with her attorney Jose Baez from the Booking and Release Center at the Orange County Jail after she was acquitted of murder, July 17, 2011 in Orlando, Florida.
Casey Anthony leaves with her attorney Jose Baez from the Booking and Release Center at the Orange County Jail after she was acquitted of murder, July 17, 2011 in Orlando, Florida.   (Getty Images)
Casey Anthony, center, walks out of the Orange County Jail with her attorney Jose Baez, left,  during her release in Orlando, Fla., early Sunday, July 17, 2011.
Casey Anthony, center, walks out of the Orange County Jail with her attorney Jose Baez, left, during her release in Orlando, Fla., early Sunday, July 17, 2011.   (AP Photo/Red Huber, Pool)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 31 comments
Rammrodd
Jul 19, 2011 8:17 PM CDT
It was obvious all along that Casey was riding a bum rap, and the charges against her were bogus. But she & Jose Baez beat the prosecutors, and put a smack-down on Nasty Grace. Casey rules!
fractal
Jul 19, 2011 7:20 PM CDT
I am pretty jaded in my opinion of the justice system.  I do not think prosecuters even care if they put an innocent person in jail;  hell, they will tell you "its not their job to decide guilt or innocence, just to present the evidence".  If that isn't the most mealy mouthed excuse for abdicating responsibility! Their careers are by far the most important thing going, and if it suits them politically, they will sell your rights down the river in a heartbeat.  Why do you think they fight against the Innocence Project, when there is new evidence showing a persons innocence?  They are too stubborn and arrogant to admit they got it wrong, or they have other, more sinister reasons why the truth shouldn't come out.
fourCatssoon
Jul 19, 2011 4:12 PM CDT
ENOUGH! Get on with your dull wacko lives and leave this girl alone - unless you are perfect then don't throw stones!
 

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