Casey Anthony Will Face Death Penalty

(NEWSER) - The judge tentatively set Oct. 12 as the date for Casey Anthony's first-degree murder trial, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Today’s court appearance also featured wrangling among lawyers over the release of Anthony’s online photos, and a video that shows her reacting emotionally to the news that daughter Caylee’s body had been found. More»

Prosecution: Casey's a documented 'liar'

(NEWSER) - Arguments are over and the jury is out in the Casey Anthony case. But before jurors exited the court, the prosecution offered its final rebuttal to the defense’s arguments . In an hour-long presentation, prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick replayed clips of Casey lying to officials and her parents, calling her the “most well-documented liar ever seen in a courtroom," the Orlando Sentinel reports. “Whose life was better without Caylee? Was Cindy Anthony's life better?" Burdick asked. Then she showed a picture of Casey’s “Belle Vita” tattoo. “There’s your answer,” she said. More»

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»

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 .

'This is not a murder case,' says lawyer

(NEWSER) - Casey Anthony didn’t kill her daughter—nor was Caylee murdered at all, Casey’s lawyer said today. Instead, the 2-year-old drowned in her grandparents’ swimming pool, Jose Baez said in his opening statement, reports CNN . “This is a tragedy that snowballed out of control,” the attorney said. “This is not a murder case.” Baez also explained Casey’s partying before the child was reported missing: “Casey did what she's been doing all her life, or most of it: hiding her pain.” She was taught to do that when her father began sexually abusing her, he said. More»