Cindy Anthony dropped a bombshell on June 23 when she claimed, “I looked up chloroform,” not Casey Anthony, as well as chlorophyll, in the week of March 17, 2008.
Her daughter, Casey Anthony, is on trial for allegations of first-degree murder after the remains of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony, were found on Dec. 11, 2008, after a series of lies Casey told about the toddler’s whereabouts. The state of Florida alleges that Casey intoxicated the little girl with chloroform or by the suffocation by duct tape sealing her nose and mouth.
The state began their rebuttal phase on Thursday in the State v. Casey Anthony trial, but the jaw-dropping occurred Friday when contradicting testimonies by state witnesses proved Cindy perjured herself for what some have speculated was to take the wrap for her daughter.
John Camperlengo, chief compliance officer for Gentiva Health Services where Cindy was employed, took the stand and confirmed that Caylee’s grandmother was at work on March 21, 2008, entering patient information into her computer’s system, under her own user name throughout the entire afternoon and most importantly between 2.00 p.m.and 3:00 p.m. when the chloroform searches were being done.
Also refuting Cindy’s statements was the testimony of Kevin Stenger, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office computer expert. Under direct examination with Prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick, he testified when he verified keywords in Google’s search engine that began with “chloro,” he found no results for chlorophyll. Cindy claimed she researched the word “chlorophyll” on her family’s desktop computer to discover whether it was a substance found in bamboo in her backyard, causing her dogs to become ill.
Cindy also had testified earlier she searched for the words sanitizer, which did not appear. Stenger said he found one search for “neck” but none was found for bamboo.
“None of these terms were utilized in these files,” Stenger said and added he even repeated his analysis by using an older examination tool called Hex Editor to confirm, and those results were consistent with his initial ones.
Drane Burdick’s final question to Stenger was whether there was a search for dogs. “Somebody searched for fleas,” he replied.
It is unknown whether legal action will be taken against Cindy for the misconduct, but Karin Moore, a law professor at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and former criminal defender, assumes Cindy won’t be.
“They could file it in good faith,” said Moore, “but under the circumstances of this case, it would be harsh.” The charge for perjury is primarily felony in the third degree, she says.
After the final testimony by Yuri Melich, the lead Orange County Sheriff’s Office detective on the case, Drane Burdick affirmed, “Your honor, the state has no further rebuttal witnesses.”
Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. informed jurors that the attorneys had concluded their presentations and dismissed the 17-person jury until Sunday morning when closing statements will be initiated.
At the conclusion the case, the defense requested renewal of motions for a mistrial they filed earlier in the trial. Cheney Mason stepped up to the podium to dispute the video submitted into evidence by the state, which demonstrates Caylee’s face superimposed into a skull, while duct tape is wrapped around her face, concealing her nose and mouth, implying the tape is the murder weapon. Judge Perry denied that motion.
He also petitioned the motion for a mistrial by death penalty expert Ann Finnell, arguing for the death penalty to be stricken, after Florida regarded it as unconstitutional in a particular case last week.
Perry queried, “You want me to continue reserving ruling on that matter?”
“I want you to continue reserving ruling on that,” Mason replied.
Mason also inquired about a judgment for acquittal.
According to Mason, the state has argued different methods of homicide–saying the child died either from poisoning with the chemical chloroform to the application of duct tape blocking the child’s breathing–“depending on what week of the trial we are in.”
Mason argued that the state lacked the “essential elements” in their evidence related to when the child died, how she died, where she died, and who, if anyone, was present when she passed, which he classifies as a burden for them. “These have not been answered since July 16, 2008,” said the counsel.
He maintained there was no evidence of pre-meditation, aggravated child abuse or felony murder and asked the court to reconsider counts one, two and three, stating that although Casey provided many falsehoods to several family members and friends, she was still a good mother to little Caylee Marie. “She was a very good, devoted mother to every witness who took the stand,” he expressed.
He declared there to be no solid results for some of the investigations. Mason reinstated the doctors’ testimony affirming there “may” have been chloroform in the trunk of Casey’s car because there was only a “trace” of it, but still no proof the toddler’s death was caused by it; nor is there proof that the tape was on the child’s face, issues the state has been facing for three years, he claimed
“The whole thing is a bunch of confusion,” Mason asserted, arguing that the jury should not have to endure it. “They shouldn’t have to be burdened to guess this … This requires inference and speculation.”
Drane Burdick quickly shot down Mason’s claims.
“There is sufficient evidence to go to the jury,” she said. “We ask the court to deny the judgment of acquittal.”
After hearing both sides’ pleas, Perry ruled, “Renewal for judgment of acquittal will be denied.”
Because Perry reserved ruling on the amended motion for mistrial under Finnell’s request to strike the death penalty, if convicted, Casey, could still face death.
There will be no court proceedings on Saturday. Closing statements will begin on Sunday, following which Perry will instruct the jury in the law and then deliberations will begin.
Court watchers do not believe that a verdict will be reached before next Tuesday.
