Casey Anthony was back in an Orange County courthouse today, March 18th, where her defense team made the case before Judge Stan Strickland that their client is indigent.
Before making a decision however, Strickland requested an explanation from the defense regarding what monies had been received and how they had been spent, reports HLN TV.
The defense team revealed that, some $200,000 had been received from ABC; $70,000 from a former member of the defense team, Todd Macaluso, who has since stepped down, and $5,000 from an anonymous donor.
In responding to Strickland, the newest member of the Anthony defense team, criminal defense attorney, J. Cheney Mason, questioned Jose Baez on whether there was any movie deal or commercialization arising from the case. Baez, another member of the defense team, responded in the negative.
It was revealed too that, Baez was paid $89,000 for legal services rendered so far, while another of Anthony’s lawyers, Andrea Lyon had spent $22,000 for travel and other expenses, including tracking down of leads. But this still leaves another $160,00 from the funds received unaccounted for and presumably, this is information Strickland requires.
While the Orange County Clerk of Courts has already declared Anthony indigent, Strickland is expected to made his decision on this issue in the next two weeks.
Many legal analysts expect the judge would grant the defense team’s request, although most likely there would be a cap on the funds.
Meanwhile, another major development in court today was the release of hundreds of pages of documents, previously sealed, showing that Casey had written 50 letters and notes to another woman behind bars. While HLN TV reports that, there is no indication of a confession, the information exchanged between the two inmates could contain significant information.
Anthony remains in jail, charged with first degree murder in the death of her two-year-old daughter, Caylee. If convicted she should face the death penalty. Her trial is expected to commence in May 2011.
Anthony has pleaded not guilty to the murder charges.
