On Monday, Judge Stan Strickland stepped down from presiding over the Casey Anthony case, followed the filing of a Defense motion on Friday, 16th April, which accused the Judge of showing bias towards the prosecution.
In recusing himself, Judge Strickland wrote that, “Until now, enjoying my work has never seemed to pose a problem. Even so, the Court (Strickland) is now accused of being biased in favor of the prosecution”.
The Anthony Defense team in their motion had charged that Strickland had developed a too-close relationship with a blogger/journalist Dave Knechel who blogged extensively on the case, most of which they claimed was pro-prosecution.
On one occasion, last October, Knechel said Strickland had told him he thought his blog was fair. Strickland had made these comments in open court, with the TV cameras rolling and the Defense attorneys present.
“The Courts comments to the blogger/journalist, delivered “secretly” in open Court, with open mics, in front of rolling TV cameras, and with all counsel present, was indeed, a compliment,” Strickland sarcastically wrote. He said that his comment to Knechel was “unremarkable”.
Strickland noted that the Defense had accused him of being a “self-aggrandizing media hound” and this is “rich with irony”.
Chief Judge Belvin Perry will now preside over the case.
Be careful what you ask for!
Casey Anthony is charged with first degree murder in the death of her two-year-old daughter. If convicted she could face the death penalty.
