After about 10 hours and 40 minutes of deliberation, jurors found Casey Anthony not guilty of murder in the first degree of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony.
Moments before the verdict was read, Casey sat in court breathing heavily and biting her lips. At times she spoke briefly with one of her defense attorneys, Dorothy Clay Sims.
Around 2:15 pm on Tuesday, Karen Delpilar, clerk of the court, read the jury’s verdict before a hushed courtroom.
The jury, 7 women and 5 men, was not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt the 25-year-old Florida mother murdered her 2-year-old daughter three years ago, by suffocating her with duct tape placed over her nose and mouth and chloroform. According to the jury, the prosecutors did not prove Casey caused Caylee’s death.
After the verdict was read, Casey cried and hugged her attorneys, then allowed a smile.
Casey’s defense team had argued that the toddler drowned accidentally in the family swimming pool, and grandfather George Anthony, covered up it up. The toddler’s remains were found on December 11, 2008 in woods near the Anthony family home.
The jury did find Casey guilty of four misdemeanor charges of lying to law enforcement officers. She will be sentenced on Thursday.
Charges:
Murder in the First Degree–Not Guilty
Aggravated Child Abuse – Not Guilty
Manslaughter – Not Guilty
Providing False Information to a Law enforcement officer – Guilty
Providing False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer – Guilty
Providing False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer – Guilty
Providing False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer – Guilty
